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Ten Basic Schools with special needs receive teaching aids
Ten basic schools with children with special needs in Accra have received teaching materials worth GHø20,000 from Chance for Childhood (CfC), an International Non-Governmental Organisation to aid in their teaching.
The items were sandpaper letters and numbers, an animal puzzle, colour tower, and toddler puzzle (shapes and colours and building blocks ).
It was to mark this year’s International Day of Persons with Disabilities, to raise awareness about disability, and draw attention to critical issues relating to the inclusion of persons with disabilities.
The beneficiaries were Kanda Accra Metropolitan Basic School, Alwaleed Islamic Training Basic School, Ayawaso North Municipal Model School, John Westley Basic School, and Ayalolo ‘3’ Basic School.
The rest were Kaneshie Kingsway Basic School, Rasad Islamic Basic School, A.N.T ‘3’ Basic School, Abavana Down Basic School and Alajo 1 Basic School.
Making the presentation in Accra yesterday, the Global Inclusive Safe Garden Lead of CfC, Mr Richard Opoku stressed the need for inclusive education for all in the country.
He called on the Ministry of Education to increase budget allocation to inclusive education, adding that it would ensure that children with disabilities and other special needs receive key learning interventions that would help them learn to achieve their potential.
“The Ministry should facilitate the sensitization of parents and caregivers on disability and inclusive education, this would ensure that parents and caregivers get useful information to support children with disabilities and effectively work with school, ”he added.
He called on the management of the schools to maintain the teaching materials and use them for its intended purposes.
Mr Opoku stated that such donations would be replicated in other regions.
The Unit Head, Education for Learners with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Special Education Division at the Ghana Education, Ms Belinda Bukari on behalf of the beneficiaries commended Cfc for the kind gesture.
Ms Bukari urged parents to play the advocacy role by not hiding their children with special needs but give them the needed support to contribute their quota in the communities.
She advised teachers to use best practices in caring for children with disabilities in the country.
BY ANITA NYARKO-YIRENKYI
The Vice President, Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, has called for stronger action to promote gender equity and create more opportunities for women in the workplace.
She made the call in a Facebook post after joining staff at the Presidency of Ghana to mark International Women’s Day.
The celebration was held under the theme “From Commitment to Action: Promoting Equity for Every Woman in the Workplace” and focused on recognising the achievements of women while reflecting on the work needed to ensure equal opportunities.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang extended warm wishes to women across Ghana and noted that women have always played key roles in the country’s communities and economic activities.
According to her, women in the past served as healers, traders and queen mothers who contributed to leadership and governance in traditional societies.
She explained that Ghana’s cultural history shows that women have long provided knowledge, leadership and innovation to help develop communities.
The Vice President however noted that current disparities require society to examine systems and structures that may have limited opportunities for women.
She stressed that advancing gender equity will require deliberate actions and the mentoring of young women to prepare them for leadership roles.
Professor Opoku-Agyemang recognised women whose work takes place in markets, streets and small trading spaces across the country.
According to her, these women form the backbone of local economies and continue to demonstrate resilience despite the difficult conditions they face.
She commended women working at the Presidency for their dedication and leadership and reaffirmed the need to promote respect, fairness and opportunity for every woman.
The Vice President further called on both men and women to work together to break barriers and ensure that women can fully contribute to Ghana’s development.
By: Jacob Aggrey
The Diaspora Affairs Office at the Office of the President has hosted a delegation of African diaspora women who are in Ghana ahead of a planned Presidential Conferment of Citizenship ceremony.
The Director of Diaspora Affairs, Kofi Okyere Darko, explained in a Facebook post that the visit was a gesture of appreciation by the delegation to the Government of Ghana for its continued efforts to reconnect Africans in the diaspora with their ancestral homeland.
He indicated that the ceremony, scheduled for next Monday, will officially grant Ghanaian citizenship to members of the delegation as part of the country’s broader engagement with the African diaspora.
The delegation was led by Erica Bennett, Founder of the Diaspora Africa Forum.
According to Mr Okyere Darko, her years of advocacy have played an important role in strengthening ties between Africa and people of African descent living abroad.
He noted that the group’s journey towards citizenship represents not only a legal process but also a cultural and spiritual return to their roots.
Also present at the meeting was Natalie Jackson, an attorney who is also expected to receive Ghanaian citizenship during the ceremony. She works closely with renowned civil rights lawyer Ben Crump.
Mr Okyere Darko emphasised that Ghana remains committed to strengthening relationships with the African diaspora and promoting unity, identity, and shared heritage among people of African descent worldwide.
By: Jacob Aggrey
