How polio survivor Joel Acheampong became a talented Ghanaian artist

Joel Acheampong, a Ghanaian artist from Kwadaso in the Ashanti has earned recognition for creating paintings by holding and guiding a paintbrush with his mouth.

Acheampong contracted polio at the age of six, leaving him unable to use his arms, hands or legs. However, his physical condition did not stop him from developing his artistic talent.

Speaking in a recent interview with African Global News, he recounted how it all began.

People & Places: Meet the 'no limbs' man who paints with his mouth

According to him, he learnt to write by holding a pen between his teeth. He later applied the same technique to drawing and painting, a skill he began developing in 1996.

Cecilia Menka, the headmistress of the basic school he attended, admitted him into class six at the age of 21.

He later went to graduate the Jachie Pramso Senior High School in Kumasi.

Through dedication and self-discipline, Joel refined his mouth-painting technique both independently and with guidance from art teacher Mark Gyebi Nyante

His work earned him the opportunity to hold a solo exhibition in Kumasi in 2011.

JKB/VPO

Emotional Moment as Piesie Esther Grabs the Mic at Mabel Intuah’s Funeral