Kumasi (Ash) , 4 June

The Ashanti Regional Fund-Raising Committee of the Ghana National Trust Fund has presented tools and equipment valued at 2.3 million cedis to five selected disabled persons in Kumasi. At the same forum, the fund also presented its second quarterly cheques of 2.2 million cedis to three selected organisations. The disabled persons are Mr Kwasi Nyarko who received shoe-making tools including a sewing machine and 80,000 cedis and Miss Florence Mensah who was given a sewing machine, a pressing iron, materials and thread. Mr Kofi Badu received a foot sewing machine, materials and thread, Mr Kofi Mensah got carpentry tools and 60,000 cedis and Mr Kwasi Addai was presented with tools for rural crafts and 175,000 cedis. The three beneficiary organisations are the Westphalia Village at Oyoko in the Sekyere East District which had 608,400 cedis, the Ghana Society for the Physically Disabled at Jachie in the Bosomtwe-Atwima-Kwanwoma district which had 1.014 million cedis and the Kumasi Cheshire Home which was given 608,400 cedis. Making the presentation on behalf of the Ashanti Regional Minister, Mr J. O. Manu, the Deputy Ashanti Regional Co-ordinating Director, said the disabled have a crucial role to play in the socio-economic development of the country. He, therefore, urged them not to dispair but have courage to pursue whatever objectives and goals they set for themselves.