VEEP hands over wheel chairs to physically challenged in Tamale

Tamale, March 21, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama has appealed to parents and benevolent organisations to help physically challenged persons to unveil their full potential to enjoy meaningful lifestyles. He said little attention was given to the education of the physically challenged in the past, hence the need for pragmatic measures to integrate them into the society.

The Vice President made the appeal in Tamale at weekend when he assisted Rotary International to present some 110 wheel chairs valued at $ 44,000 to some physically challenged persons in the Northern Region. The presentation of the wheel chairs had been possible through the joint collaboration of the Rotary International, Wheel Chair Foundation-UK and Ghana Outlook.

Vice President Mahama said the wheel chairs would serve as a path to a decent and meaningful live and commended the Rotary International, Ghana Outlook and the Wheel Chair Foundation for the initiative. He said people with disabilities deserved to be treated better, explaining that "Physically challenged persons are always the first to be withdrawn from school if families are facing financial challenges". He said government attaches importance to the welfare of the physically challenged and had therefore made their education free from primary to the tertiary level to ensure that they enjoyed quality education.

Mr. Mahama appealed to the Regional Co-ordinating Councils, Metropolitan, Municipal and District assemblies to enforce the law on making all public buildings especially schools and clinics disability friendly.

Mr. Joseph Mumuni, President of Rotary Club of Tamale said the presentation of the wheel chairs was one of its benevolence gestures to society.

He said Tamale Rotary Club had spent millions of dollars in executing development projects in the Northern, Upper East and Upper West regions. Giving an overview of rotary activities, Mr. Mumuni said the club of Tamale in conjunction with its international partner clubs and the Rotary Foundation had spent close to $1.6 million in the past two years in the areas of health, water and sanitation in Brong Ahafo, Northern and upper East regions.

He said the Tamale Teaching Hospital also received a donation of two 40-footer container loads of medical equipment and other consumables valued at $ 800,000 to help improve medical care. Mr. Joe Achana, Director of Ghana Outlook, advised the beneficiaries not to use the chairs to beg on the streets but should use them for productive ventures.

He expressed regret that the communal spirit among the people of the North had died off and asked members of parliament and District Chief executives from the area to strive harder to facilitate development.