Assembly pledges to support people with disability

Kodie (Ash), Dec. 18, GNA - The Afigya-Kwabre District Assembly, has initiated steps to provide vocational skills training for people with disability. The assembly said it had already awarded scholarships to five physically handicapped students to pursue various academic careers.

The District Chief Executive, Kwaku Oppong-Kyekyeku said this when he inaugurated a 123-member District Association for Persons with Disability at Kodie in the district. The occasion was also used to present wheel chairs donated by the Church of Latter Day Saints to six of the members. The DCE advised disabled parents to stop putting their children on the streets to beg for alms and instead they should enroll them in schools for

them to grow to become useful citizens. Mr Oppong-Kyekyeku told them to have self-confidence and adopt the "can do it' attitude to life.

Mr Augustine Atta-Adade, the District Director of the Department of Social Welfare, said bringing those with disability together and helping them to earn a living, formed part of the Assembly's development agenda. He said they would be assessed in terms of their capacity.

Mr Sam Pyne, Chairman of the Assembly's Social Service Sub-Committee, asked the executives to be transparent and avoid discriminating against some of the members. There should be mutual respect and that they should remember they are fighting for a common cause. Mr George Kwadwo Nkrumah was elected the Chairman with Solomon Boateng as Secretary and John Owusu, the Organizer.