Construction of new physiotherapy facility commences

REPORT ON THE 15TH GRADUATION OF THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED ACTION FOUNDATION

The training and rehabilitation center for the disabled is located in both Offinso south and Offinso North municipalities, specifically in Maase- off Barekese road and Nkenkaasu respectively. Visiting the Maase centre is about 45 minutes whiles the Nkenkaasu centre is about 1 hour 15 minutes drive from Kumasi.

The foundation’s main campus is the Maase center which caters for most of the students, staff and volunteers from within and outside the country. It has a physiotherapy center serving the needs of both the students and the people in the community at no cost. It has about 40 acres of farm land which serves the purpose of the students.

The Nkenkaasu center on the other hand though has large, serene and spacious compound harbours a few numbers of the students and staff. Physically Challenged Action Foundation (PCAF) has three main training departments thus boutique tie and die, shoe making and leather works and tailoring/dress making, which has trained and rehabilitated 900 physically challenged persons so far.

It has become a norm that every two years students who have successfully excelled in their various field of study are graduated. On this day a splendid graduation ceremony is organized for the outgoing students. Each outgoing students receives tools and equipments with respect to the department he/ she was trained. Again a seed capital as well as a certificate of honour is awarded to each graduating student. For the first time in the history of this biennial ritual each graduating student received a seed capital of GH¢500.00. Additionally, her royal highness lady Julia, the wife of Otumfuo Osei Tutu 11, the Asantehene, was invited as the special guest for the occasion.

The graduation ceremony is an organized process involving a march of students onto the stage, the reading of speeches, the giving of awards, and of course - the commencement exercise, the official moment when the students are declared graduated. It is one of the most important moments in a student's life as it marks a transition from one stage in his/her educational life to another. Hence, the graduation ceremony is attended by parents, friends and well-wishers of a person. The major part of the ceremony is taken up by the distribution of certificates to the students who march up the stage as their name and major is announced. It is a moment of pride for a student as well as the parents who look on with a sense of achievement as an educational status is conferred on their child.

Twenty three students were to be blessed and honoured on this 15th graduation ceremony and therefore should be introduced or outdoored to the general public. With this motive in mind the director, students, staff and parents took it upon themselves to inform and invite friends and relatives from far and near to come and witness the event.

Very important dignitaries including the paramount chief of Offinso, Nana Wiafe Akenten 111 and his sub chiefs, queen mother of Offinso traditional council, her Royal Highness Lady Julia- the wife of the Asantehene, honourable Ministers and Members of parliament were humbly invited to grace the occasion. In all 1000 invitation letters and cards were printed and delivered out to the entire public. Cooperate bodies and institutions, were also invited to support the foundation with their financial contributions to aid the success of the graduation ceremony.

Physically Challenged Action Foundation (PCAF), Maase and Nkenkaasu, Offinso conducted its biennial graduation day programme for the 15th batch on Sunday 13th February, 2011. The official lunch of the ceremony began on the 12th February, 2011 with a route march from the Maase centre through the principal street of Offinso south, which was accompanied by five (5) police officials who controlled and directed the traffic to ensure peace and order.

On the Sunday, 13th February, 2011, the director, staff, students and the entire members of the foundation gathered at the auditorium to pray and beseeched God for a successful graduation ceremony. By 1.00 pm, almost all the invited guests including the Omanhene of Offinso traditional area, Nana Wiafe Akenten 111 and his sub chiefs have arrived. Pastor Joseph Boachie Agyeman offered the opening prayer to commence the ceremony.

Nana Wiafe Akenten 111, Offinso Omanhene who was also the chairman for the occasion addressed the gathering. In his address he said, he together with the queen mother, sub chiefs and the entire people of Offinso are in full support of the foundation and will do their maximum best to ensure the growth and development of the foundation. Again Nana Offinsohene cautioned the graduates to put the knowledge that they have acquired from the centre into good use for the society to benefit from it.

The director, Mr. Barimah Antwi

Mr. Barimah Antwi, the director of the foundation welcomed the congregation. He disclosed the newly assumed name of the foundation which he said is “The Physically Challenged Action Foundation” to the gathering. He captured the opportunity to address The prestigious people present and the general public on the achievements, growth and development of the foundation over the period. As an accomplishment, he said that the five year span farming project which began in 2008 farming season in addition to other agricultural projects fetch him the best farmer award of the Offinso municipality in the year 2009. He stated that a long awaited dream which was the construction of a physiotherapy centre came to reality by the help of a Holland based organization called “Live Build”. Again he systematically outlined the development projects over the period which includes; construction of pavement to aid the mobility of students, construction of four (4) KVIP latrines, a hand-pump borehole and an installation of a corn mill at the centre.

Furthermore, Mr. Barimah Antwi passionately appealed to individual philanthropists, donor agencies, organizations, and the government for a school bus, probably the centre can be considered for one of the Get Fund busses which will enhance excursions and trips to broaden the horizon of the students. Moreover he asserted to all and sundry to come adopt and sponsor the students.

In a nut shell, he paid homage to the benefactors who have supported the foundation since time-in-memorial.

Honourable Ben Abdallah Bandah, Mp for Offinso South Constituency

The Mp for Offinso south, honourable Ben Abdallah Bandah was another important personality who attended the ceremony. His speech was a source of inspiration to both the graduates and the general public. He stressed that disability is not and should not be a stumbling block to self-empowerment and development. He said “there are many self empowered and legendary personalities who had physical disability but eventually managed to overcome all odds and were very successful in life”. He mentioned Frank Roosevelt, formal president of the United States of America and Mr. Steve Wonder one of the world’s great musicians as examples of people with disability whose life and achievements should be an inspiration and reference to learn from. He then encouraged the graduates not to be dismayed by their present condition because disability of nature is not a mental disability and they should persevere till they achieve their ultimate goal.

The centre was extremely privileged to have the Deputy Minister of employment and social welfare, Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere present at the 15th graduation ceremony. His presence and the speech that he delivered emotionally encouraged the graduates, students and the whole congregation present.

Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere declared in his speech that, it is an undisputed fact that throughout the world, people with disability of any form suffer a colossal exclusion from the rest of the society. He admitted that, within the family unit, a child born with disability is not happily welcomed and indeed in the olden times, used to be murdered at birth altogether. People living with disability are stigmatized and talked about in the society. The honourable minister Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere said that “through the instrumentality of this center the burden and stigma of people living with disability has been removed from the twenty-three (23) persons who are graduating today”. He then challenged the graduates to go out into the world and become role models in their communities and breadwinners of their various families.

In addition to the above, Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere highlighted on the government’s intention to integrate and empower persons living with disability. He emphasized that the government through the National Disability Council and other stakeholders is currently working on the legislative instrument to fully operationalize the National Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).

Moreover, Mr. Antwi Bosiako Sekyere stated that, the government has directed that 2% of the district assembly common fund at the respective district assembly should be ceded to pwds and that he cautioned stakeholders to strictly adhere to this directive.

He ended by encouraging the director of the foundation, Mr. Barimah Antwi and other stakeholders to continue with their efforts whilst the ministry does its best to ensure sustainability of the centre.

title
Mama Pat making a presentation to Kwadwo Fordjour

title
Nana Wiafe Akenten 111 making a presentation to Peter

On the day, each graduate received a set of tools and equipments according to their diverse field of training. Out of the twenty three graduating students, seventeen received a complete set of sewing machine and accessories whilst six graduating student received sets of tools and equipments used in shoe making and leather works.

Not only did they receive tools and equipments but also they received bibles to aid their spiritual growth and certificates to testify of their skills and abilities. The graduating students were very honoured in that their presents were handed over to them by the invited guests of honuor including the Offinsomanhen, Nana Wiafe Akenten 111, representative of her highness lady Julia- Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei and others.

The out-going students received their presents with great joy and smile. Indeed it was a magnificent period of tears and sorrow, their long dream of becoming prosperous individuals is gradually coming to reality. Family and friends hailed in prayers and praises behind them as they received their presents.

Prayers were offered to God, the most high to graciously bless and make them prosper in all their Unfortunately, her royal highness lady Julia was not personally present but she appointed Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei to come in her stead. Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei expressed the deep regret of Lady Julia for her absence and asked the entire gathering to forgive her. Mrs. Appiagyei invited the board of directors of the foundation to a breakfast meeting with her royal highness lady Julia to deliberate on issues concerning the graduation and the conscience vision and mission of the foundation.

Miss Bernice Antwi, a daughter of Mr. Barimah Antwi and currently an employee at the National Sports Council, all alone thanked the chairman Nana Wiafe Akenten 111, Mrs. Patricia Appiagyei a representative of her highness lady Julia, ministers of state and members of parliament present and all other people present at the graduation ceremony.

Above all she thanked the almighty God for making this day a dream come through.

After the closing prayer has been said, the crowd immediately left the congregational grounds for the room where the fresh graduates have showcased the fruits of their skills and knowledge. Some of the work which included shoes, sandals, dresses to mention but a few were so gorgeous and attractive that lookers could not only watch and pass by than to purchase some of them.

All the outgoing students have experienced a rite of passage that marks one stage of a person’s life to another. Through the relentless efforts of Physically Challenged Action Foundation each fresh graduate has now experienced a passage ritual of three steps, thus, separation from the society, inculcation- transformation and return to the society in new status.

In the beginning you as a disable/physically challenged were considered as an outcast in the society. They were ostracized and talked about in the society because of your disability. Due to the stigma placed on them (that is people with disability) by the society, most of them grew to have low self esteem and they considered themselves as inferior and good for nothing creatures. Physically Challenged Action Foundation separated them from this torture of the society to a centre where they found joy and discarded their sorrow. Now there is a true transformation in their lives. Now the culture of humility, service to mankind, hard work, positive self image to mention but a few have been inculcated in them to arise and shine for the world /society to know their capabilities. This “can do spirit” that they have imbibed, to a large extent is accompanied by numerous responsibilities. They are now returning to the world/society in new status. These fresh graduates are no more going back to the street to beg for arms. Neither are they to consider themselves as inferior nor good for nothing creatures.

It is a dream comes through that, the Physically Challenged Action Foundation has trained and rehabilitated several physically challenged people to make them corner stone of the building of prosperity and the bread-winners of their families thereby contributing their quota to nation building.

title title title title title title title title title title title title title title

[home]