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.aa