‘Special Olympics In Ghana Has a Bright Future’

The President of Special Olympics Africa, Mr. Charles Nyambe, has said, he believes the future of Special Olympics (SO) Ghana, is very bright, despite challenges.

He said this during a lecture to the Board of Directors of SO Ghana, to deliberate on measures being taken to integrate people with intellectual disabilities in Ghana into society.

Mr. Nyambe, who is on a visit to Ghana also had a meeting with the SO Ghana Board of Directors at the Holiday Inn Hotel, Accra.

The SO Ghana is a body that initiates policies and programmes to actively support persons with intellectual disability.

The event was also preceded by the inauguration of the reconstituted board members of the SO Ghana by the South African, Mr. Nyambe.

He said, he expected the Board Members to operate with the general rule to advance the mission of the Special Olympics and ensure that, they understood the roles and moves of SO International.

He said “This board I believe is ready to move SO to the next level. We have endorsed the board as an accredited member.

“When you see the level of commitment of each of the board members by coming for the meeting and signing to be a part and I believe with this sign, this board is strategic and would contribute their quota. Special Olympics in Ghana has a bright future.” He said

Mr. Nyambe tasked the Board to increase the number of athletes and engage them more in sporting activities.

The SO Ghana organizes sports programmes including football, volleyball, floorball and athletics for the intellectually disabled every year to ensure that the best among them are selected to compete during the World Olympics.

ACP Augustine Kokukokor (Rtd), the Chairman of the Board thanked Mr. Nymabe for accepting their invitation to inaugurate the new board, which will manage affairs of the SO Ghana for a two year period.

He outlined that, one of their major challenge is support for their activities in kind and cash saying that SO Ghana needed a lot of resources to organize activities locally and also to represent Ghana in international competitions.

Nana Opoku Wereku- Ampim who is the SO Ghana Treasurer/ Financial Expert appealed to the general public and corporate world to assist them in their 2019 SO World Games in Abu Dhabi. “We are preparing for world games in 2019 in Abu Dhabi.

“We appealed to corporate world and the general public to assist us, so that our names won’t be missing again in World Competition, as it happened this year when we encountered visa and financial challenges”.

The other members on the Board are Dr. Gordon Donnir (ID Secretariat), Mr. Isaac Otchere (Athlete leader), Rev. Richard Gubillah (Secretary), Mr. Auberon Jeleel (Member), Ms. Phylis Biney (National Director of SO Ghana), Mrs. Veronica Sackey.

The rest are Prof. Benedict Osei-Owusu ((Family member), Mr. Saka Aquaye (Sports Expect), Dr. Ebenezer Owusu (Member), Dr. Osei Yaw Adutwum (Member), Lawyer Jerry Shab (Member), Lawyer Anthony Boateng (Member) and Dr. Michael Arthur (Member).

Source: GNA