Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia has broken ground for work to begin on a 2,000 acre, 9,000-home Integrated Community and Empowerment Centre for Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) at Agortor-Kope in the Ningo-Prampram District of the Greater Accra Region.
Known as the CEM Ability Village, the center is an initiative of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) through the Church’s Ability Village Charity, to support and empower persons with disabilities through skills training and specialist healthcare to promote their full participation in all facets of society.
Vice President Bawumia, a passionate supporter of the cause of PWDs, lauded the leadership of the Church for conceiving and undertaking such a major project, saying it is a reflection of the Church’s response to the call to help humanity. He also encouraged Corporate Ghana, the donor community, development partners, Associations and groups, religious organisations, and individuals to give generously to this laudable project.
The CEM Ability Village is programmed to be an inclusive and empowerment center to help address some of the challenges facing persons with disabilities. The CEM Village will, among other things, provide Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other skills training to address PWD employment challenges. It also has an ultramodern hospital to cater for the specific needs of persons with disability.
Dr Bawumia noted, “people with disabilities face a variety of social, attitudinal, physical, educational, transportation, and communication barriers in their everyday lives, which affect their full inclusion in our communities.”
“These barriers result in negative consequences such as social exclusion, physical and mental health challenges, discrimination, stigmatization, low self-esteem, and financial difficulties.”
Dr Bawumia, who is Patron of the Ghana Lepers’ Aid Committee and whose care and philanthropic activities with persons living with disabilities are well documented, pledged his commitment to the success of the project, and urged all to do same.
Dr Bawumia hailed Rev Steve Mensah and the leadership of the Church and the Charity.
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Lariba Zuweira Abudu, thanked the Chiefs of the area for “releasing such a large tract of land for such a laudable project” and pledged the Ministry’s absolute support to ensure its speedy completion.
Work on Phase One of the project will be situated on a 500 acres immediately while the charity continues to solicit funds and equipment to undertake the entire project in record time
