Convention of GAB opens in Kumasi

Kumasi, Oct 6, GNA - The Ashanti Regional branch of the Ghana Association of the Blind has acquired over 60 hectares of land at Kokode in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma District to build a school for the blind.

The association has therefore appealed to the government, philanthropists, churches and other organizations to assist in paying compensation to the land owners and also establish the school. Mr Osei Assibey, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the GAB, announced this at the opening of a thee-day convention of the association in Kumasi on Friday.

The convention being attended by 60 delegates from the region is under the theme "Causes and Prevention of Disabilities". He said the establishment of the school would help bring formal education to the doorstep of blind children as well as adults to avoid the problem of sending them far away to the School of Blind at Wa and Akropong in the Upper West and Eastern regions.

Mr Philip Bediako, National Vice-President of the Ghana Association of the Blind, said he was not happy about the inability of some Municipal, Metropolitan and District assemblies to pay the two per cent of the Common Fund to people with disabilities.

He appealed to the assemblies to abide by the government's directives to qualify them to access the fund.

Mr Anthony K. Agyemang, Kumasi Metropolitan Director of the Department of Social Welfare, appealed to the executives of the association at various levels to educate their members to know the provisions of the Disability Act to enable them know their rights and responsibilities. He pledged the readiness of the department to give training to their members at its rehabilitation centres and appealed to them to acquire vocational skills to enable them to be self-employed rather than begging for alms.

Mr George S. Kyeremanteng, Regional Secretary of the association, appealed to the media especially the F.M stations to educate people on the causes and prevention of disabilities at all times. Mr Paul Dotse, a retired educationist who presided at the function, appealed to the public to support people with disabilities so that they could become part of society. 05 Oct 07