Australian High Commission donates sports equipment to the blind

The Australian High Commission on Friday handed over assorted tennis equipments worth GH?4000 to the Ghana Blind Union (GBU), to create enabling avenues for the visually impaired to engage in sporting activities.

It include three showdown tables, 80 eye patches, three whistles, 20 masking tape, four big cello-tape, wooden rackets and balls; and were handed over to the Union by Dr. Kate O’Shaughnessy, Second Secretary and Vice Consul of the Australian High Commission.

The showdown game is played just like table tennis, but the balls have pebbles that resonate and chased by the players, to direct and hit the ball under the middle mark and onto a net to score points.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy commended the vision of the executives of the Union for initiating such laudable programs to support the blind to be productive in society.

She promised that the High Commission would keep in touch and collaborate with the Union and its members to equip them with the needed support to contribute towards the socio-economic development of the country.

Dr. O’Shaughnessy stressed the importance of sports, especially to the disadvantaged in the society hence her outfit’s decision to support the Union with sporting equipments for their recreation.

Mr. Yaw Ofori Debra, National President of GBU who received the equipments on behalf of the Union, thanked the High Commission for the donation, describing it as timely since most visually impaired have not had the benefit of being exposed to sporting activities.

He said the provision of the sports equipments would therefore create an enabling environment for the blind to exercise, meet their social goals as well as prepare for future sporting activities.

Ms. Rose Nakazibwe, a Voluntary Services Overseas (VSO) Volunteer who initiated the gesture said, the equipment would be made available to Regional branches of the Union for the use of various wings to support them.

She thanked the Australian High Commission for their concern and support and urged others to emulate such a gesture to support and alleviate the sufferings of the blind.

Nii Tetteh Adjabeng, Traditional Ruler of Adabraka, a suburb of Accra, expressed delight for the donation and said it would go a long way in the training and rehabilitation of the needs of the physically impaired and the blind.

Dr. Peter Obeng Asamoa, Executive Director of the GBU and other executive members were at hand to lend their support, which they described as the first of its kind.**