Vice President Dr. 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 project is the brainchild of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) through the Church’s Ability Village Charity, to support and empower persons with disabilities skills training and specialist healthcare to promote their full participation in all facets of society.
When completed, the 9,000 homes will shelter, comfort, and give a sense of belonging to 69,000 poor and disabled families.
It will also have a state-of-the-art specialist hospital, boasting a capacity of 100 beds, to offer specialised services to ensure that those in need, especially the vulnerable, have access to quality healthcare.
Honours
As part of the project, the General overseer of CEM, Rev. Steve Mensah, named the industrial unit of the CEM Ability Village after the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund, Mrs. Irene Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey.
He also named the IT unit of the Village after Vice President Bawumia for his immeasurable contribution towards digitalisation of all sectors of the Ghanaian economy and his continued support for the underprivileged in society.
Phase I
Work on Phase One of the project, to be situated on 500 acres, begins immediately while the charity continues to solicit funds and equipment to undertake the entire project in record time.
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.
“For many years, I have followed with keen interest your efforts in providing assistive devices, medical care, and other essential items for this vulnerable group across the country by organizing the “Day of Help” for persons with disabilities, which is commendable”, Dr Bawumia hailed Rev Steve Mensah and the leadership of the Church and the Charity.
He noted that people with disabilities face a variety of social, attitudinal, physical, educational, transportation, and communication barriers in their everyday lives, which affects 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.
“Consequently, persons with disabilities are more likely to live in abject poverty than persons without disabilities. Unfortunately, our society’s actions and inactions continue to create barriers to their integration into our communities.
“It has become expedient to tackle these issues head-on with concrete actions that will deal with all these prejudices and barriers impeding the full inclusion of persons with disabilities in our communities. Therefore, CEM Ability Village shows that we do not have to wait for the Government to do everything. We are all responsible for our fellow brothers and sisters living with a disability.
“We all need to put our hands on the ploy and work to remove all obstacles facing our brothers and sisters. Let us tap into our human nature and give out our resources to lift persons with disabilities from this quagmire of despondency.
“We have to do a lot as a Government, and we are committed to addressing these challenges,” he stressed.
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.
“I must admit that this initiative to support persons with disability is dear to my heart, and I will offer all the necessary support for realizing the CEM Ability Village. The Government will also do its part in the realization of this project. Supporting the CEM Ability Village is our civic and moral responsibility. Let us all rise to the occasion for every life matters, and we should not leave anyone behind.
“This ground-breaking is a call to action; Ghana must stand with persons with disabilities. I will encourage Corporate Ghana, the donor community, development partners, Associations and groups, religious organizations, and individuals to give generously to this laudable project. Technical assistance from development partners and construction materials and equipment donations for the skills training facilities and the hospital are welcome,” he emphasized.
Naa Torshie’s excitement
Mrs. Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey was visibly excited for being part of a project that will improve the lives of many vulnerable people in Ghana.
“I stand before you not only as a speaker but also as someone who shares a deep-rooted passion for serving the vulnerable.
“I would want to take this opportunity to express my sincerest appreciation to the church for naming the industrial hub of the village after my good self. I don’t take this gesture for granted!
“It is my fervent hope that by the grace of God, my vision to help establish a training and vocational institute at the industrial hub for the vulnerable, consistent with my aspiration to establish same across the country, within the shortest possible time will come to fruition,” the Common Fund Administrator pledged.
According to her. the medical facility was a testament to CEM’s unwavering commitment to compassionate care and healing.
Mrs. Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey eulogised Vice President Dr. Bawumia for always championing the interests of vulnerable people, especially his continuous support for cured lepers.
She said the presence of the Vice President at the ceremony, “reflects his commitment to uplifting the lives of the marginalised and most often unrecognized people.”
The support and endorsement of this project by Dr. Bawumia, Naa Torshie noted, served as a testament to the importance of “our collective mission to build a better future for us all.”
Gender Minister
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hajia 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.
The CEM Ability Village
The CEM Ability Village is programmed to be an inclusive and empowerment centre to help address some of the challenges facing persons with disabilities. The Village will provide:
a. Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and other skills training to address PWD employment challenges.
b. An ultra-modern hospital to cater for the specific needs of persons with disability. Among others, the hospital will also serve as a referral centre for PWDs to provide restorative surgery, aids and appliances, training and serve as a research facility.
c. Technology Centre to focus on software development and hardware assembly and repair.
d. Provide advocacy, counseling, guidance, and information services for persons with disabilities across the country.
e. Provide assisted living and affordable housing support.
f. Support persons with disabilities to venture into agriculture and other business ventures in collaboration with development partners and corporate organizations.
