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, 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.
"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," he noted.
"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.
"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.
