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VP Bawumia commissions ICT lab for School For The Blind
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Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has reiterated the need for the nation to pay special attention to the educational needs of persons with disabilities, noting that apart from being a national responsibility, it would also help Ghana fulfil her international obligations.
Thus, the government would continue to explore the best ways of providing such care, including the provision of a conducive learning environment, teaching and learning aids and personnel for special needs instruction.
Dr Mahamudu Bawumia made the commitment when he concurrently commissioned an innovative ICT Lab for the Akropong School for the Blind and the Wa Methodist School for the Blind on Friday, 2nd August, 2024.
At a brief ceremony in Akropong, Dr Bawumia also handed over 104 special laptops to the 104 special needs teachers, while the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for Akuapem North, Samuel Awuku, presented 600 White Canes to the two special needs schools in his constituency, the Akropong School for the Blind and Mampong School the Deaf.
Dr Bawumia, who is also the NPP flagbearer, who is known for his care and passion for the disabled, emphasized his commitment to ensuring that the needs of the disabled and disadvantaged receive the highest personal and governmental attention.
“As a country, we want to put issues of children with special needs on the development agenda and take steps to achieve Sustainable Development Goal Four which is to ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote lifelong learning opportunities for all,” he said.
According to him, “The ICT Lab we are here to hand over is more than just a room filled with computers. It is a gateway to a world of possibilities, a platform for creativity and a beacon of hope for students with visual impairments to also navigate the digital landscape with confidence and ease.”
“Today, the actions we are taking here move us closer to our goal of ensuring inclusive education and access to all children regardless of ability” he emphasized.
Sharing his personal experience, he said, “My personal mission is to ensure that Special Education Needs are prioritized as a way to ease the burden on parents and guardians and improve access to school.”
“I have proposed and will champion the recruitment and training of at least 1,000 more special education teachers, training teachers in language and speech therapy as well as occupational and behavioral therapy,” he disclosed.
Lauding the humanitarian spirit of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Mr Sammi Awuku appealed to the Ministry of Education, the Ghana Education Service and other organizations to support Special Needs Schools, noting that such children have unique abilities and can contribute meaningfully to national development.
The 29th Annual Dagaaba-Frafra Friendly Games have once again demonstrated that sports can be a powerful vehicle for cultural preservation, business networking, friendship and peaceful coexistence.
Held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra last Saturday, the games brought together members of the two ethnic groups from across Ghana and abroad for a colourful celebration under the theme, “Unity in Diversity: The Dagaaba-Frafra Model for Peaceful Co-existence.”
The event, which has evolved from a friendly football match into a major annual gathering, featured football, volleyball, sack races, lime and spoon, tug-of-peace and a penalty shootout for senior citizens.
At the end of the competitions, the Frafra won four events, while the Dagaaba secured victories in five, with the men’s soccer match ending in a draw.
The Frafra triumphed in the men’s lime and spoon, men’s sack race, women’s sack race and women’s soccer, while the Dagaaba won the women’s lime and spoon, men’s volleyball, women’s volleyball, women’s tug-of-peace and the senior citizens’ penalty shootout.
However, the games extended far beyond the sporting arena. The stadium grounds and surrounding spaces became a vibrant marketplace, with patrons enjoying and purchasing a variety of traditional foods, drinks and cultural products.
Local delicacies, including TZ, tubaani, bambara beans, pork, guinea fowl, local fowls, dog meat and kosie, were sold alongside traditional alcoholic beverages. Traditional dresses and other culturally inspired items also attracted buyers, turning the gathering into an important platform for small businesses and vendors to make sales while promoting northern Ghanaian culture.
The cultural exchange continued long after the final sporting contests, as patrons remained at the venue to eat, drink, socialise, dance and party well into the night.
In her remarks, the Guest of Honour, Dr Matilda Aberese-Ako, said the gathering represented much more than competition, describing the Dagaaba-Frafra relationship as a historic bond that had evolved into a modern sporting tradition and an instrument for peace.
MTN Ghana has been the headline sponsor for the games for the past 10 years.
By Gordon Wellu
By Gordon Wellu
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MTN Ghana has undertaken a tree-planting exercise at the Chipa Forest Reserve as part of its commitment to protecting the planet and support the restoration of degraded sections of the forest.
The activity forms part of the company’s 2026 Sustainability Month celebration held under the theme “Small Actions: Big Impact,” and its 30th anniversary celebration.
It was held in partnership with the Forestry Commission (FC) and the Rainforest Alliance with MTN Ghana supporting the restoration of approximately two hectares of degraded forest through the planting of 1,666 trees.
Due to the current dry weather conditions, 833 trees were planted during the exercise, with the remaining 833 to be planted when the rain commences.
The exercise brought together MTN employee volunteers, officials from the Forestry Commission and representatives of the Rainforest Alliance, demonstrating the importance of collaboration in driving environmental sustainability.
Speaking at the event, the Acting General Manager for Sustainability and Shared Value at MTN Ghana, Georgina Asare Fiagbenu, emphasized the critical role trees play in sustaining life and protecting the environment.
“Trees are essential to human survival and healthy ecosystems. They absorb carbon dioxide, release oxygen, regulate temperatures, protect soil, support biodiversity and provide habitats for many species. They also conserve water, reduce erosion and help communities adapt to the effects of climate change,” she said.
The District Manager of the Tema-Ada Forest Services Division of the Forestry Commission, Linda Ansah, welcomed MTN Ghana’s support, describing it as a valuable contribution to efforts aimed at restoring degraded sections of the reserve.
The Country Director of the Rainforest Alliance, Nicholas Jengri, also welcomed the partnership and emphasised the importance of collective action in addressing environmental challenges.
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