The community needs of Ghana, especially in various regions surrounding Accra, the capital city, are that many Polio victims and other disabled people are economically disadvantaged, marginalized and underserved. They lack mobility and access to well-fitted wheelchairs to get around for doing day-to-day activities. According to the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), the entire country of Ghana has more than 20,000 people who are economically disadvantaged and have no wheelchairs. This global grant project: Ghana Project on Economic Development for the Disabled (GDEPP) will meet the needs of over 80+ Polio victims and other disabled people in and around the capital city, by providing them with necessary training on economic upliftment, training to seek employment opportunities and small business opportunities, and a facility to help maintain their wheelchairs.

The Ghana Project on Economic Development for the Disabled (GPEDD), a global grant project jointly initiated by the Rotary Clubs in District 7620 and District 9104, strives to improve the economic conditions of the marginalized group of Polio victims and other disabled people of Ghana, to empower them to have freedom of mobility, to have dignity of life, and to play a positive role in the community.

Main Objectives:

1. To improve economic conditions of the marginalized group of Polio victims and other disabled people of Ghana

2. To provide mobility to the disabled people using technologies and equipment such as wheelchairs, so they can seek employment or start small business, and

3. To provide necessary training to the disabled people for seeking employment and for maintaining wheelchairs.

Beneficiaries:

The primary beneficiaries of the GPEDD project are over 80 Polio victims and disabled people, men and women, young and old; as selected by the Ghana Society of Physically Disabled (GSPD) in coordination with the Host Club (Rotary Club of Accra-South, Ghana). The beneficiaries have already been identified from various regions of Ghana.

According to the GSPD, over 20,000 people in Ghana are disabled and marginalized. They need mobility (such as wheelchairs) to seek employment and to do small business to improve their economic conditions; however, this GPEDD global grant project will meet the needs of only 50+ people who are severely underserved and marginalized. This economic opportunity will be most welcome by the GSPD and other Foundations (such as, Wheels for Change, Inc.) that are active in Ghana.

Role of Partner organizations

The Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (based in Ghana) has a current data of the needs of Polio victims and disabled people in Ghana, and they are also willing to train the beneficiaries on accessing economic opportunities and on wheelchair use and maintenance.

Wheels for Change, Inc. (based in the USA) has the knowledge and experience in wheelchairs for various types of users. They have a strong connection to the wheelchair users of Ghana. Two wheelchair racers in the Paralympics (Daniel Romanchuk of USA and Raphael Botsyo of Ghana) have collaborated to establish this non-profit organization to provide help and assistance to uplift the economic conditions of the disabled people of Ghana.

Funding Partners

Rotary Clubs of Accra-South, Mt. Airy, Washington DC, Charlotte Hall, Baltimore, Southern Frederick County (Urbana), New Market, Sykesville, Pikesville - Owings Mills, Districts 9104 and 7620.