First lady, Lordina Mahama, has called on organisations to hire persons living with disabilities if they qualify for certain positions.

She says the employment rate for people with disabilities remains low and discrimination and rights infringements are still common.

Mrs. Mahama said this at the first speech and prize giving day of the Akropong School for the Blind in the Eastern Region.

The theme for the anniversary was “disability is not inability”.

“It is said that in our country and many others, employers and society generally continue to remain doubtful of the potential and capabilities of the blind,” She said.

According to the first lady, this and other prejudices must be removed but noted that it can only be done if the nation collectively begins to recognise the ability of the blind person and other persons with disability.

She added that it is only quality education that would make the blind child functional, independent and able to contribute his or her quota to national development.

“Quality education also equips the blind child with knowledge and skills to navigate successfully through the challenging job market”, Lordina Mahama noted.

For her part, the Headmistress for the Akropong School for the Blind which houses, feeds and educates some 400 visually impaired persons, Ms. Mahela Narh, noted that the school is faced with a myriad of infrastructural, logistical, financial, and personnel challenges.

She said even though the government provided funds for the school regularly, the funds usually delayed and it was also woefully inadequate.

In a related development, the MTN Foundation used the occasion to hand over a computer laboratory with 20 desktop computers and a 33-seater bus to the school.