Obuasi, March 17, GNA - Mr Joe Boampong, Obuasi Municipal Chief Executive, has called on charitable organisations to support the physically disabled to enable them become more productive and contribute to the development of society.

He made the call when presenting a 4.8 million cedis deep freezer on behalf of the Obuasi Municipal Assembly to Madam Juliet Ameyaw 40, a physically disabled woman at Obuasi.

Mr Boampong said there was the need for the physically disabled to be supported to enable them live decent lives. He noted that some of them became disabled either during birth or by an accident therefore; society had a responsibility to contribute to their proper upkeep.

The Municipal Chief Executive said the Government through the assemblies had initiated programmes to support the physically disabled to become self-sufficient.

Mr Boampong advised the physically disabled on the streets begging for alms to take advantage of the Government's initiative and undertake jobs that could sustain them. He deplored the involvement of some physically disabled in criminal activities and advised them to refrain from the practice to win public sympathy.

Mr Daniel Wallace Acheampong, Obuasi Municipal Social Welfare Officer, said the assembly had voted 40 million cedis under the Government's initiative to support physically disabled within the municipality.

The assembly has so far provided two sewing machines and 15.85 million cedis cash to seven physically disabled.

Mr Acheampong said the Department of Social Welfare in collaboration with the assembly had planned to train the physically disabled in snail, grasscutter and mushroom farming. Madam Ameyaw, who is a member of the Obuasi branch of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, commended the assembly for the gesture that would enable her sell iced water and other items for a living.