Kumasi, Sept. 13, GNA - The Government has voted one billion cedis from the HIPC Fund through the Ministry of Manpower and Employment to rehabilitate all Rehabilitation Centres of the Department of Social Welfare in the country to give vocational training to people with disabilities.

The gesture would help them to be self-employed to enhance their status and contribute meaningfully towards the socio-economic development of the country.

Mr Nicholas Halm, Chairman of the Advocacy and Publicity Committee of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, announced this at the opening of a two-day training seminar on Disability Policy Document and the Disability Draft Bill, organized by the Federation in Kumasi on Monday. The seminar being attended by 45 participants selected from the northern sector is aimed at collating views and suggestions on the Disability Policy Document, as well as the Disability Draft Bill. He commended the government for the efforts being made to ensure the passage of the Disability Bill into law to give adequate protection and rights to people with disabilities.

Mr Halm, who is also Secretary-General of the Ghana Association of the Blind, said the objective of the Disability Document is aimed among others at caring for and helping the individuals with disability to cope with his or her situation.

He urged the participants to contribute meaningfully towards the discussion to promote the passage of the Disability Bill into Law. Miss Graace Breko, Co-ordinator of the Federation extended gratitude and appreciation to the Right and Voices Initiative, (RAVI) and the Centre for Democratic Development for their assistance to the Federation in its sensitisation programmes.

Mr K. Christopher Kisseih, Second Vice-President of the Federation appealed to the participants to educate their fellow colleagues on the assistance and support of the government and other bodies and advised them to make use of the opportunities.

He urged the public and other civil organisations to contribute towards the Draft Disability Bill to ensure the success of the passage of the Bill into Law.