Minister of Employment launches white cane

Accra, Sept. 22, GNA - The Minister of Employment and Social Welfare, Mr. Mohammed Mumuni, on Wednesday called on Ghanaians to redirect their charity to planned areas which can help support the needy. He said Ghanaians' sense of charity is sometimes misdirected thereby sending it to the wrong areas.

Mr Mumuni made this call when he launched a locally manufactured white cane for the visually impaired in the society. The cane, manufactured by the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) with support from DANIDA and the Danish Embassy, will cost 25,000 cedis and 40,000 cedis each depending on whether it is rigid or collapsible.

He said the white cane was symbolic and utilitarian in nature. Symbolically it helps others to know that you have a problem and ensures mobility, independence, and self-reliance, which arise from the highest participation.

The 1992 Constitution, he said, has demonstrated that the country demands and requires the highest level of social justice and called on all to reach out to the less fortunate to integrate them into the mainstream of society.

He said the cane would help save foreign exchange, which could be directed into other areas. The Minister appealed to individuals and organisations to purchase some of the canes to distribute to the visually impaired, who could not afford them, to help sustain the enterprise that is producing the cane.

He thanked DANIDA and the Danish Embassy for supporting of the project. Dr. B. I. Koray, National President, GAB said the project has so far produced 4,000 and 1,000 rigid and collapsible white canes respectively.

He said the project is aimed at the sub-regional market and suggested that the government should subsidise the price when sold in the local market.