Business magnate puts up dormitory for mentally challenged school

Kumasi, July 14, GNA - Mr Naja David, a Kumasi-based business magnate, has single-handedly funded the putting up of a dormitory block for Kumasi Garden City Special School, at the cost of 35,000 Ghana cedis. He has also built a perimeter wall around the school, also at the cost of 17,600 Ghana cedis.

Inaugurating the block in Kumasi at the weekend, Madam Patricia Appiagyei, Kumasi Metropolitan Chief Executive, said a percentage of the district assembly's common fund, earmarked for the rehabilitation of persons with disabilities was a manifestation of the government's commitment to ensure that all Ghanaians, irrespective of their physical conditions were encouraged to make themselves economically self-dependent.

She said the Kumasi Metropolitan Assembly (KMA) would therefore use part of its share of the common fund to offer vocational and other income-generating training programmes for persons with disabilities to enable them lead decent lives.

Madam Appiagyei acknowledged that the infrastructure and other facilities in the school were inadequate to accommodate other children identified to be mentally-challenged and gave the assurance that KMA would support the school to put up more infrastructures. She regretted that in the past such children were considered as bad omen and consequently rejected by the society. She was, however, happy that through intensive education, a number of people have recognized and accorded them with sympathy and rehabilitates them. Madam Appiagyei commended Mr Naja David and other philanthropists who have been supporting the 'unfortunate' children and advised others to emulate. The KMA Chief Executive donated 5,000 Ghana cedis from her foundation established during her 50th birthday to the school for the upkeep of the mentally challenged children.