Former Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) and Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Dr Kofi Kodua Sarpong, has presented assorted gifts in support of the smooth operation of the physically -challenged training and rehabilitation centre at Offinso.

These included five desktop and laptop computers, photocopier and printer, 51-inch flat screen television set, two mowers and 200 metal chairs.

The centre over the past 26 years has trained and set up over 1,500 people with physical disability in various trades to make them economically self-supporting.

These include carpentry, leather works, shoe-making and leather carving, dressmaking and tailoring, batik making and agriculture.

It has additionally assisted more than 500 others to undergo orthopaedic surgery.

Dr Sarpong’s donation was part of his 60th birthday celebration, and he said it was important for society to do more to bring some comfort to the socially- disadvantaged.

He said he was deeply touched by the extraordinary humanitarian effort of the centre’s founder, Mr Barima Antwi, at helping the physically challenged to lead dignified lives.

He appealed to the trainees to believe in themselves, work hard to achieve their dreams and should never allow their situation to become a distraction.

Mr Antwi said they were grateful to Dr Sarpong for his generosity and appealed to other well-to-do people to share in providing a better future for those with disability.

He spoke of plans by the centre to introduce information communication technology (ICT) into its training programmes.

The trainees at the end of the three years skills training receive a package of tools and kits together with seed capital of GH¢500 to set up their own businesses and Mr Antwi said many are doing very well” and have become bread winners of their families.