Ghana will soon boast of an ultra-modern sports and education facility for the physically challenged.
The 11-million cedi project is to be sited on a 40 acre land provided by the chiefs and people of Dominase in the Central Region.
A fundraising for six million cedis for the construction of the initial physical facilities has been held at the State Banquet Hall in Accra.
Vice President Kwesi Amissah-Arthur, who was the special guest of honour, called on Ghanaians and corporate organizations to support the government in the provision of facilities to cater for the different segments of the Ghanaian society.
He pledged the government’s support for the realization of the project.
The Ministry of Youth and Sports pledged five thousand cedis towards the project. Seth Eyiah has filed this report.
The Richoff Disability Sports and Education Foundation is the brainchild of Richard Offei, a former member of the national amputee football team, the Black Challenge.
Richard was earlier a player of the Dansoman-based Premier League side Liberty Professionals.
He lost one of his legs in a vehicle accident at the time that he was an active player for the club. Consequently, Richard lost his place in the Liberty football team and his family also rejected him.
He became a destitute until the national amputee football team was formed and came to his rescue. Richard thus became one of the foundational players and represented Ghana for the first time in some major international tournaments in Argentina, Sierra Leone, among others.
Vice President Amissah-Arthur praised Richard Offei for his leadership qualities and spirit of resilience.
He thanked the chiefs and people of Dominase for the donation of the 40 acre land for the project and called for community involvement in the execution of such initiatives.
The Majority Leader in Parliament and patron of the foundation, Alban Bagbin also recounted the myriad of challenges physically challenged people go through every day.
He said this has been made worse due to the combined menace of poverty, ignorance, social exclusion and resource constraints, thereby forcing them to beg for alms on the streets in order to survive.
Mr Bagbin therefore, appealed to all and sundry to come on board and contribute to a worthy course.
The President and founder of the foundation, Mr Offei said he was motivated by his ordeal to come out with idea of helping the physically challenged.
Currently, the foundation is sponsoring 30 physically challenged persons from basic, JHS to SHS.
Fifteen other members of the foundation’s amputee football team, are members of the national team.
An undisclosed amount of money and pledges were realized at the fundraising.
–
Source: Office of Vice President