The Calvary Charismatic Centre in the Ashanti region has kick-started a campaign to get all church members to purchase 1 white cane each to support the blind community in the region.
The church made the call when the Magya Boafo Foundation established in memory of its late First Lady Pastor Joyce Obeng, donated 200 white canes worth fourteen thousand cedis (GHC14, 000) to leaders of the Ghana Blinds Union.
This was after a plea to the church to support over four thousand seven hundred blind and partially sighted persons in the Ashanti Region who could not afford this critical mobility tool which costs 70 cedis a cane.
“I am also going to make an appeal to the church that every member must be able to buy at least one white cane. If God has given you two eyes, help somebody who doesn’t have them because it is a Christian attitude to help one another,” Head pastor of the church Rev. Ransford Obeng admonished.
These white canes will give greater independence to persons with visual impairment unfortunately left economically and socially excluded because of their inability to travel and move about freely with the aid of a white cane.
Rev. Ransford Obeng further appealed to the public to be empathetic and offer support whenever a blind person is spotted finding their way with a white cane.
“I am asking all taxi drivers, trotro drivers, motor riders and pedestrians that anytime you see someone with a white cane, the person needs your assistance and respect so let us give them the priority and right of way,” he counselled.
Expressing his gratitude, Ashanti Regional Chairman of the Ghana Blinds Union George Kyeremanteng, relayed how the donation will empower beneficiaries.
He was positive the plight of the blind will see some significant solutions if religious bodies show greater concern to their needs.
“This is a great contribution and it is going to help our people to have full enjoyment in their activities. We say big bravo to the church for their benevolence and great concern shown to us,” Mr Kyeremanteng noted..
Reporter for E.I.B. Network and project lead for the white canes project of the Blinds Union, Ivan Heathcote – Fumador, underscored how empowering one blind person with a white cane opens them up to social and economic opportunities.
“What CCC has done today is to place in the hands of every blind or partially sighted person, the ability to move out of their shells to attain their economic and social freedom and these gifts are indeed priceless treasures to all who receive them,” he indicated.
As part of the drive, the Ghana Blinds union has also started advocacies to demand better access to pedestrian walkways and an end to open drains in the country.
Source: Ivan Heathcote – Fumador/Ultimate FM