MCE calls for support for physically challenged

Koforidua, Oct. 17, GNA - The New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive (MCE), Nana Adjei Boateng, has stressed the need for the physically challenged persons to be supported in society to enable them to compete in the global world.

"We need to recognize the fact that, the physically challenged, right from the word go, are disadvantaged and therefore need a push to be able to make their mark", he said.

The MCE said this on Friday, when Mr Emmanuel Yeboah, a physically challenged person, donated educational items and bursary totalling 12 million cedis to 16 physically challenged persons in the Eastern Region at Koforidua.

He commended Mr Yeboah for the gesture, which he described as "a worthy cause and a shining example that deserved a national honour." He asked parents to take special care of their wards, who were disadvantaged and give them the capacity to be able to do something progressive meaningful for their lives and the development of the nation.

The MCE pledged the support of the Assembly to support them live out their lives to the fullest, by taking notice of their shortcomings and providing alternative passages for them in public offices. He cited the construction of the Regional Library and some public places of convenience as where alternatives passages have been provided to facilitate their patronage of such facilities.

Mr Yeboah is a crippled cyclist, who won an international award of 25,000 dollars last year for defying his disability to create awareness for the benefit of physically-challenged persons in the society. According to him, his aim was to equip all those who were disadvantaged by providing them with educational materials for the young ones and means of livelihood for the adult to rid them from the street alms begging.

He said already, 13 physically-challenged persons in the basic and three in the Senior Secondary Schools had benefited from a scholarship bursary for their schooling in the region from his award.

Mr Yeboah called on all public-spirited persons to help create a sound environment for the physically-challenged and promised to continue supporting them through his sporting activities.