Akropong School for the Blind cries for school bus

Authorities of the Akropong School for the Blind have lamented over government’s inability to allot them one of the 500 buses recently distributed to schools and educational institutions.

The headmistress of the school Mahela Narh said she was disappointed following the development since the school has been in dire need of vehicles to facilitate students’ movement among others.

“In 2007 they shared vehicles and the school for the blind was left out, the first special school in the country which has the greater number was left out, just last year they gave Yutong buses, we were hoping and appealing,” Madam Narh poured her heart out when a delegation from the Men’s Ministry of the Living Streams Baptist Church donated assorted items to the school as they mark Father’s Day this year.

She added: “Just this last week too, honestly I was down spirited. WA school for the blind hasn't got a bus at all and they were left out. Sometimes we are invited for national programmes, just this last week they were to start their BECE, our exam center is Okuapiman, we had to convey the students so it was some people who supported us with their car. So it’s a big challenge, we need a bus seriously.”

According to Madam Narh, they were hoping to have one of the recently distributed buses because it was a promise yet to be delivered.

She also pointed out that the moratorium on employment in public institutions is posing a major challenge for the Akropong School for the Blind since the school cannot employ more hands even though the staff strength has reduced. Narh lamented the inadequate workers in the school, disclosing that the school's clinic facility has to fall on the PTA to run the place without any government worker.

“And even accommodation, when you go to the ICT center, it is leaking profusely and even bungalows for staff, we don’t have enough, the bungalow which is supposed to be for one person, a family of two are sharing, even some are still commuting from Accra,” she stated.

Madam Narh also expressed worry over the inadequate feeding grant from government which is compelling them to live on charity. According to her, the Ghc3.30 as grant for each student daily is not forthcoming. She said the school is always in trouble with their suppliers because of the huge arrears with government.

The leader of the delegation from the Living Streams Baptist Church, Douglas Quartey said the ministry deemed it necessary to give to the school in order to fulfill part of the Christian's mandate of helping the poor and needy in society.

“I think for us as fathers it is a responsibility to take care of our kids and on father’s day we are not here to receive, we are here to do our responsibility as fathers and take care of our children and to remind them to pray for their fathers to continue to provide for them,” he said while pledging the ministry’s future support.

In a special Father’s Day message, the Senior Pastor of Living Streams Baptist Church, Rev. Daniel Yirenkyi-Larbi counseled parents with children with disabilities to accept them “unconditionally” just as those without one.

“They should regard the special care those with disabilities need as a ministry from the Lord. They should not do anything to suggest they are a bother or a burden. They should affirm them and let them know their disabilities do not make them less human beings. They should also encourage and provide the support and resources they need to develop their full potentials,” Rev. Yirenkyi-Larbi noted.