Please Help Keep Me In School �Blind Orphan Tells Weeping Philanthropists [PHOTO]

A cross section of Koforidua media practitioners, the Headmistress of the Akropong School for the Blind, and management of Mensvic Grand Hotels, one of the largest and finest hotels in East Legon, broke down in tears last Monday, during a presentation to the school by the latter. It all started when the Headmistress, Madam Mahela Narh, disclosed that a woman, Christiana Billy, wanted to take one Ebenezer Amoah, a 16 year old blind orphan, back home to go and carry firewood to pay her debt. The Headmistress and the gathering could not help but break broke down into tears, following the condition of Ebenezer. This brought the ceremony to a temporary halt. According to the Headmistress, Madam Billy, who is a resident of Akye, a community in Nzema in the Western Region, and takes care of Ebenezer, came to the school over the weekend that she wanted to take the boy back home, because she was indebted to the tune of GH�400. Speaking to the media, Madam Billy, who claimed to be a bread seller, said she had used all her money from the sale of the bread to take care of Ebenezer Amoah�s education and other expenditure, which had rendered her insolvent. According to her, since she used the money on Ebenezer and has no other option, it would be good if she takes him home to work on the farm, or carry firewood for sale to pay the debt, but the school authorities declined the request. The visibly disturbed and traumatised middle aged woman has vowed to take the boy home, since she used the money on him, a he must therefore work to pay the debt, but the Headmistress explained that if the school had to release the young boy, who they described as brilliant, to go and suffer, they would do everything within their means to save him. Narrating the pathetic story to the media, young Ebenezer Amoah said he was not born blind, but an unknown situation led to his present condition, while he also lost both parents in the struggle. The young blind orphan said he wished to become a lawyer in future, and vowed that nothing could be an impediment to realising that dream, not even his current condition, and called on Ghanaians to pray for him. According to him, he had something positive to offer Ghana and mankind, however, that talent would not be unearthed if he was not supported, and declared he not to go anywhere, but would rather die in the school. �I wish to be in the school and die of hunger in order to realise my dreams of becoming a lawyer, rather than to go back home and eat to my fill without realising my dreams,� the ambitious young man said. Mrs. Victoria Ntiamoah, who led a delegation to present items to the school, has promised to pay the GH�400 debt to Ebenezer�s �Aunty� to allow him to remain in school. She further promised to support the young to be blind lawyer in his education among others, as far as she lives. Meanwhile, items such as bags of rice, gallons of cooking oil, boxes of tomatoes puree, assorted drinks, and biscuits among others amounting to GH�5,100 were given to the school.