You need to break the perception that you are elitist - Veep tells Lions

Accra, Sept. 8, GNA - Vice President John Dramani Mahama on Tuesday urged members of the Lions Club to open up and break the perception that the Club was elitist to attract more people into their fold to enhance its philanthropic work.

He commended the Club in Ghana for its assistance to the disabled adding that its positive role in the education of the visually impaired was much appreciated but pointed out that the removal of the perception that the Club was an upper class society would enable many a Ghanaian youth to be engaged in its activities. The Vice President made the call when a delegation of the District 403 A of the club led by its Governor, Mr Diaketey Seydu, who was in Ghana on a working visit paid a courtesy call on him at the Castle, Osu, in Accra.

The District 403 A is made up of all member countries of the ECOWAS sub-region except Nigeria. Vice President Mahama said the Lions' assistance to the disabled was line with Government's programme to improve upon the lives of all Ghanaians.

Mr Mahama said Government was working on the Disability Bill to protect the disabled and on behalf of President John Evans Atta Mills congratulated the Lions for being gender sensitive. He lauded the Lions for their spirit of international solidarity and the assistance members gave non-members in need Mr Seydu complimented the Vice President on his assumption to the second highest office in the land and commended Ghanaian for upholding the principles of democracy.

He said the Club, which existed in more that 220 countries, worked with Governments and other stakeholders on specific programmes that suited specific needs.

Mr Nelson Yawo Agbesi, Past District Governor, announced that the Club had facilitated the establishment of a Music Department at the Akropong School for the Blind. He said the Club was established for service rather than socialisation.