First Lady Mrs. Mahama presents items to Akropong School for the Blind


First Lady Mrs. Lordina Mahama says improving the facilities of visually impaired persons as a special subset of persons with disability is the major priority of the government. 

To this end Government is rehabilitating and constructing facilities in all special schools across the country.

These include libraries, dormitories ICT labs among others and also the provision of text books brails and other learning materials to improve on the education of Persons with disability.

Mrs. Mahama was speaking at the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region when she donated food items, teaching and learning materials to the Akropong School for the blind.

Mrs. Mahama who is also a Patron of the School urged teachers to work hard and support the students to unearth their God given talent.
 
The First Lady reiterated government’s commitment in ensuring that the provision of infrastructure, logistics, textbooks, and paying for the lodging of students in all special schools across the country.

She mentioned that with the inception of new educational reforms government has put in place pragmatic measures for academic and technical and vocational education for persons with disability to prepare them for the job market. 

She asked other stakeholders to collaborate with government in its quest to improve the education of Persons with disability.

The First Lady asked parents to discharge their responsibility by providing the need of their wards who are disabled in one form or the other.

The Headmistress of the school, Miss Maheela Narh expressed appreciation to the First Lady for the visit and her continuous support as a patron of the School. 

She said government does not relent on it promises especially when it comes to the provision of infrastructure for the School.

She said an Assembly hall for the school and an 8 unit staff bungalow for staff of the school are all nearing completion. 

Miss Narh said though the school has that accommodation it is not enough to accommodate the teaming teaching staff of the school as most teachers have to commute from far places to the school every day. 

She appealed for an additional staff bungalow to accommodate more staff of the school.
          

Items donated include thirty bags of rice cartons of oil, milk sugar among others.

Teaching materials were also provided. 

The Akropong School for the Blind was established in August 1945.It was the first special education facility for the blind in West Africa to be initiated by the Presbyterian missionaries. 

On that faithful day, four pupils, one girl and three boys were enrolled with initial staff strength of four.  

It compromised two Ghanaians, Mr. and Mrs. Alex Godfred Sakyiama Amoako and two expatriates, Mrs. Bnezies Margaret and Lilian Moore.

The purpose for which it was established was to train the blind children and integrate them into the mainstream society and as such the school has been serving that purpose till date.

GBC