GOVERNMENT TO PROVIDE LAPLOPS FOR BPSY
By: Jamila Akweley Okertchiri
GOVERNMENT has pledged to provide laptops for the Blind and Partially Sighted Youth (BPSY) especially those in the tertiary institutions.
Government made this pledge as a result of the courtesy call made by the president of the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB) Mr. Yaw Ofori Debrah during the 17th annual national delegate’s congress of the youth and students wing of GAB.
Mr. Ofori Debrah noted that all the tertiary institutions have trainees of blind students in their institutions and therefore the need for laptops to be provided for he blind and partially sighted students to enable them do their activities with less support from others.
He further called on the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) to have a facility that would cater for the blind and partially sighted students since GAB is finding it very difficult to fund for the students who cannot pay their user fees stating that cost should not be used as an excuse to deprive the blind and partially sighted of this facility. “We have the ability to do something for our families and the nation as a whole.” He said.
The president of GAB also charge the government to come out with a scheme to help solve the issue of unemployment among the disabled in society stating that the Accra rehabilitation center and the social welfare are under performing in catering for the disabled who cannot go to school and this is as a result of poor allocation of budget to these institutions.
The minister for employment and social welfare, Honorable Stephen Amanor Kwao in his address to the delegates stated that it is the expectation of every democratic government that every citizen contributes to and enjoy the economic development of the country hence the pledge to provide laptops for blind and partially sighted students.
The minister noted that, the disability act which was passed in 2006 was to protect the rights and promote the interest of people with disabilities and to empower them to contribute their quota to national development assuring them of governments support in the areas of education and employment.
Honorable Stephen Amanor Kwao added that, in view of government s support towards the disabled in the society, the percentage of the district assembly common fund set aside for disability issues has been increased from 2% to 5% and also government was going to continue the loan scheme for people with disabilities.
The minister in his concluding statements encouraged the delegates to work with determination and to avoid laziness and getting things the easy way like begging and also urged parents to send their disabled children to school.

PIX saved in daily guide folder as GAB
Caption: Guests at the delegate’s congress