Ho, April 3, GNA - ABILIS Foundation, a Finland based Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) has initiated steps to assist people living with disabilities in the Ho Municipality as part of a programme to foster sister-city relationship.

The Ho Municipal Assembly on Wednesday received a delegation of ABILIS Foundation, which focuses on development aid to disabled led by its Chief Executive Officer, Mrs Taija Heinonen. They were treated to a dinner and music in Ho. Mr Jonathan Klu, Ho Municipal Planning Officer, representing the Municipal Chief Executive said the initiative was to deepen the relationship between Finland and Ho.

Mr Klu commended ABILIS for its work in assisting disabled in the country as a whole over years and promised the readiness of the Ho Municipal Assembly to cooperate with the Foundation to empower people its people with disabilities.

Mrs Heinonen expressed gratitude to the Municipal Assembly for the warm reception and treat, but expressed the hope that allocations made for people living with disabilities, would be used to empower them and enhanced their socio-economic conditions. She commended the Department of Social Welfare for cooperating with organizations of disabled persons in the country and urged other well-meaning organizations and individuals to help people living with disabilities to be independent.

Mrs Heinonen said her organization was ready to offer grants of between 500 to 10,000 euros to fund projects of disabled individuals and organizations for a one-year period and urged interested organizations to take advantage of the opportunity. Mr Francis Asong, General Secretary of Volta Physically Challenged Independent Group (VOLPHIG), appealed to the Municipal Assembly to involve people living with disabilities when taking decisions concerning them.

Broadly, ABILIS's visit was to familiarize with people with disabilities in the country and to offer financial assistance to credible individuals and organizations for their socio-economic enhancements.