Lockdown Starves Para-Athletes …As They Cry To Gov’t For Succour

The Partial lockdown introduced by government to stop the spread of the deadly Covid-19 virus in the country, is having a hard-hitting financially toll on Para-athletes in the country.

As a result of the lockdown, the physically challenged athletes, are reported to be facing serious financial quagmire as they are said to be struggling to even feed themselves and their immediate family members.

The two major sporting events which the para-athletes were supposed to take part and make money in return to fend for themselves and their dependents have been cancelled due to the virus.

The events are the maiden edition of the All Africa Paralympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, which Ghana’s para-athletes were hoping to compete and hoist the flag of the country high.

Aside games in which they compete in to earn a living, the para-athletes do not have any other source of income, and so the partial lockdown is causing serious problems for them so they need help.

President of the National Paralympic Committee of Ghana (NPC) Samson Deen, in an interview with the paper said the current situation of the physically challenged athletes is horrible and he therefore called for an urgent government support.

Samson Deen told The New Publisher that he had been using his own resources to support the para-athletes since the lockdown was introduced but he is fast running out of resources so government must come in.

“Our athletes are in a state of despair following the cancellation of two major events this year, the maiden edition of the Africa Paralympic Games and the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games”, Samson Deen said.

He added that most of the para-athletes are unemployed and have no other source of income other than the little they make in sports so they fall into the bracket of people that are vulnerable.

In this regard, Samson Deen appealed to government to include the para-athletes in the country into any government stimulus packages and relief to support them in these trying moments.

Samson Deen gave an assurance of his outfit’s is readiness to assist government with the requisite information to ensure that any government support, approved and received, gets to the rightful beneficiaries.

President of the NPC-Ghana commended President Nana Akufo-Addo for the professional manner at which he has handled the Covid-19 virus in the country and urged him to continue his good works.