The Ashanti Regional Director of Social Welfare, Mr. Benjamin A. Otoo, has called for radical shift towards training of people with disability in technology-related trades and vocation.
He said it was time premium was put on helping them to take advantage of technology to improve their socio-economic situation.
Addressing the 17th graduation ceremony of the Offinso Training and Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Challenged at Offinso, he said mobile phone and computer repairs should be incorporated in their training curricula.
Mr. Otoo also underlined the need to back the Disability Act with a Legislative Instrument (LI) to make it enforceable. In all, 13 trainees graduated and were presented with tools relevant to the practice of vocations acquired and these included sewing machines, shoe-making tools, and a corn-mill.
Additionally, they each received seed money of GH¢500 to set up their own businesses.
Mr. Otoo applauded the management of the centre for the wonderful job it was doing to aid the physically challenged to become economically-self supporting.
The Director of the Centre, Mr. Barima Antwi, said they have over the past 27 assisted people with disability to overcome low self-esteem, build self-confidence and self-believe to lead decent lives.
He said “thankfully many of our products are making it and have become bread winners of their families”.
The Centre, besides the vocational skills training, has been helping to provide artificial limbs, calipers and orthopedic surgical treatment for the trainees.
He announced plans to build a basic school that would offer a friendly-environment for kids with disability to pursue academic careers.
Dr. Kofi Kodua Sarpong, former Chief Executive of the Tema Oil Refinery, a major benefactor of the centre, saluted Mr. Antwi for giving hope and providing a future for the physically challenged.
He said the decision to build a basic school was a right step as it would present equal opportunity for the disabled to grow and learn together with their colleagues who have no physical disability.
The Omanhene of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten III, pledged the support of the traditional council to the centre and said the cause was worth supporting.
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