Physically challenged benefit from MTN as they receive 150 solar powered tricycles

By: Isaac Akwetey-Okunor

MTN Ghana  Foundation, in collaboration with Itel Limited, has launched an Alternative Livelihood Project aimed at improving the quality of lives of the disabled in society, through the provision of MTN motorised tricycles.
The project, which is designed to provide 150 motorised custom-made tricycles to physically challenged persons to facilitate their businesses, would be used in high traffic locations across the country.
The tricycles, which have certain special features and powered by a solar energy device, would serve as sales points for airtime, SIM cards, and mobile money registration among others.
It would further provide power for the charging of customer handsets when they run out of power, as well as offer extended working hours with the support of the night lighting facilities on the tricycles.
Unveiling the project in Koforidua, the capital of the Eastern Region, the Corporate Services Executive of MTN, Mrs. Cynthia Lumor, averred that the project formed part of the company’s efforts at promoting employment in the country.
She indicated: “We recognised the fact that the issue of unemployment is a big one, and ranks very high on the government’s list of priority areas. This, the company, as a responsible corporate organisation, therefore, decided we must fully support this national concern to provide employment to the people of Ghana.”
The MTN Corporate Services Executive reiterated that owing to the core values and can-do spirit of the company, its management decided to support the physically challenged persons, since they had untapped potentials to offer Ghana.
A whopping GH¢468,882 has so far invested in the project, which is a demonstration of the company’s confidence in the potential of the physically challenged persons, and belief that each and every citizen of Ghana has the great ability to achieve success in the country when given the chance and necessary tools to operate.
Apart from the above amount of money, Itel Limited has further invested about GH¢77,500 towards the total cost of training the beneficiaries and monitoring.
The company would further be responsible for the maintenance of the facilities for the first year, in an effort to ensure that the project would have the needed impact on the lives of the beneficiaries.
The Foundation would also take full charge of the training of the beneficiaries on how to operate the machines, and monitor the progress of the project across the country, to ensure that the expected impact was achieved.
The National President of the Association of Physically Challenged Persons, Ghana, Mr. Adu Boapong, on behalf of the Association, expressed his singular joy over the project, since physically challenged persons in Ghana were most often discriminated against in society, leading to the denial of jobs and other basic activities.
The project, he underscored, would go a long way to bring smiles to the faces of over 4.8 million physically challenged persons in the country, and improve their lives, leading to averting the abject poverty staring at them.
He assured the management of MTN and Itel Limited of the commitment of his office to ensuring that the machines were put to good use to the advancement of his people.
On his part, the New Juaben Municipal Chief Executive, Alex Asamoah, who was represented at the function by the Deputy Municipal Coordinator, Mr. Majeed Ayariga, thanked MTN and Itel Limited for the laudable initiative to improve the lives of the disadvantaged in society.
To him, the development of the nation lies on the shoulders of every meaningful Ghanaian, including physically challenged persons, hence the project was most timely, and could not be underestimated.

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