NGO trains the blind to be self-sufficient

Hohoe (V/R), July 11, GNA- Mr James Dogbe, Hohoe District Chief Executive (DCE), has commended the Community Integrated Rehabilitation of the Blind (CRIB) Project for making it possible for blind persons in the district to be gainfully employed.

Mr Dogbe, who was addressing the closing session of a two-day workshop organised by the Project, sponsored by Sight Savers International (SSI), said the assembly would allocate a reasonable amount in its budget to support the Project.

Mr Francis Contomire, Chairman of the District Rehabilitation Committee of the project, said 553 blind and visually impaired persons have been trained in agriculture, trading, beekeeping, snail rearing, and poultry and palm oil extraction.

He said about 14.19 billion cedis had been spent on the project since its establishment 10 years ago.

Mr Contomire said SSI, sole-sponsors of the project, has decided to withdraw its sponsorship by the end of 2004.

Togbega Gabusu VI, Paramount Chief of the Gbi Traditional Area, said that the blind and visually impaired were capable of living independent lives if society gave them the necessary push.

Togbega Gabusu said that the CRIB has been instrumental in ensuring that no blind persons were begging for alms on the streets of Hohoe. " Disability is not inability if we help tap the talents of the disabled persons who can do better," he said.