Sekondi: Madam Belinda Bukari, Acting National Director of Special Olympics Ghana, has called on the Ministry of Sports and the government to provide support and investment to help the organization nurture the talents of children with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
According to Ghana News Agency, the appeal was made by Madam Bukari during the closing ceremony of a five-day National Advancement Special Olympics Games held at Twin-City Special School in Sofokrom, near Sekondi in the Western Region. The event, which brought together special teams from schools across all 16 regions, was hosted by the Western Region under the theme 'Celebrating the Child with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Through Sports'.
Madam Bukari, who also serves in the Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service in Accra, emphasized that harnessing the talents of special children would not only contribute to national development but also enhance Ghana's image on the global stage. She highlighted the children's skills in football, athletics, dancing, and drawing, noting that they perform these activities with utmost perfection.
In her appeal, she urged President John Dramani Mahama, Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang, and the Ghana Sports Authority to provide financial and technical assistance for the athletes' camping, feeding, and lodging. She also mentioned that eight top athletes selected from the 16 regions are set to represent Ghana at the international Special Olympics Games in Santiago, Chile, in 2027.
Madam Bukari stressed the importance of preparing the special children adequately so they can make the nation proud, much like the Black Stars at the ongoing World Cup. She expressed gratitude to Special Olympics Ghana, Ghana Education Service, UNICEF Ghana, FET Mining, ROBB Foundation, and James Spare Parts for sponsoring the event.
On the topic of unified football, Madam Bukari encouraged players to continue training as Ghana aims to participate in the international special football competition in Paraguay in 2028. Mr. Michael Aryeh, a Board Member of Special Olympics Ghana and the event's chair, praised the participants and urged the selected talents to maintain their training regimen.
Mr. Dennis Wise, Technical Director of Special Olympics Ghana, expressed appreciation for the efforts of coaches and athletes in preparing for the event. Despite facing challenges with transportation, all regions successfully managed to bring their learners to the games.