Nkoranza Assembly to construct hostel for physically challenged

Nkoranza (B/A), Dec. 24, GNA - Nkoranza South District Assembly is to spend GHC40,000 on the construction of a hostel for members of the Nkoranza branch of the Society of the Physically Challenged, to enable them to learn vocations to enhance their livelihood.

Mr Emmanuel Kwadwo Agyekum, District Chief Executive (DCE), disclosed this at an end of year general meeting of the Society at Nkoranza. He expressed his appreciation for the establishment of a craft production centre at Nkoranza by the Society, to train members in vocations, including dressmaking, shoemaking, radio mechanics and carpentry. The DCE urged them not to feel dejected or disappointed in life and called on parents to enrol their physically challenged children in schools, so that they could become responsible citizens in future. Mr Agyekum called on the general public to support and encourage physically challenged persons and contribute towards their development and that of the communities they live in.

He suggested to government to set up a special fund towards the education of children of disabled parents. Nana Guakro Effah, Chairman of the branch, commended the DCE for considering their plight and arranging for the hostel project. He deplored the practice of some physically challenged persons, who beg for alms in the streets, which he said, was "a disgrace" to members and called on them to desist from that. The Chairman advised them to engage in income-generating ventures such as soap-making, pomade processing or petty trading to avoid alcoholism and other anti-social activities.

Nana Effah called on heads of basic schools to sensitize other students to refrain from making fun of physically handicapped colleagues, as the practice had caused some promising ones amongst them to quit school. He called on philanthropists and non-governmental organisations to assist to complete the hostel for a better rehabilitation of the physically challenged in the area.