THE IMPACT OF DISABILITY ON LIVELIHOOD SECURITY OF THE DISABLE 1N TAMALE METROPOLIS

Abstract

The global weapon fashioned to fight poverty, malnutrition and deprivation are the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). However, there is no place for Persons with Disability (PWDs) as the MDGs remain silent on disability. Thus, this thesis sought to find out the impact of disability on the livelihood opportunities of PWDs especially in the Tamale Metropolis. To this end, a survey was conducted on PWDs as well as key informants soliciting both qualitative and quantitative data on their socioeconomic situation, coping strategies, support systems available to them and how they can attain livelihood security. The data was analysed using SPSS into tables and graphs. It was found among others that majority of beggars in the Tamale metropolis were PWDs (44.2%) while the rest were in the informal sector where 10% were farmers and 11.6% students, 4.2% were spiritualist, 4.2% were tailors, 11.6% teachers and 6.6% petty traders. With the kind of livelihood sources open to them, 27.5% of PWDs earned a minimum of GH¢50.00 while 12.5% earned a maximum of above GH¢300.00 per month. Contrary to the position of earlier studies that PWDs are most likely to spend more on health care, findings in this study show that they rather spend more on food than health care. They were found to be living in meager accommodation and had very minimal access to basic commodities and utilities. They were found to be generally vulnerable due to the fact many of them had no capital assets or animals. In the absence of well-paying jobs, PWDs engaged in begging, borrowing, scavenging and depending on gifts from relatives. It was found that, in the Tamale metropolis both the state and NGOs provided support to PWDs The study however revealed that very few PWDs were reached by these support systems. PWDs therefore require a deliberate effort in the areas of providing them with education, healthcare and other support systems to ensure that many more are reached and to ease their vulnerability level.