Amputee clubs cry for help

“We have 285 amputee players in camps across the country and they have all moved to camp because of the pandemic in order to survive and this has become a huge burden for the club owners.”

Emmanuel Akpabli

The Chairman of the Ghana Amputee League Clubs Association (GHALCA), Emmanuel Akpabli, has called on government to come to their aid and support the amputee fraternity in these trying times.

Mr. Akpabli says the amputees and persons with disability in the country have been neglected and therefore called on stakeholders and Government to come to their aid.

In an interview on Ahotor Kwanso Sports on Ahotor FM 92.3 he said, club owners were doing their best to cater for the players but their efforts weren’t enough. He said this is because they’re not working following the partial lockdown due to the Covid19.

The GHALCA chairman says, “Accommodating and feeding at least 285 amputee players in the country, has been a huge burden on the Association since they’re currently not working and they have no one to go to for support.

“We have 285 amputee players in camps across the country and they have all moved to camp because of the pandemic in order to survive and this has become a huge burden for the club owners.”

The Ministry of Youth and Sports has also done little to address their situation and they feel the amputees have been overlooked. In Mr Akpabli’s view, the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon Isaac Kwame Asiamah has failed on his promise to help them and all efforts to seek the ministry’s support has proved futile.

He believes that all associations have internal issues yet, they are supported by their ministry so why not the Amputee League Clubs.

“Due to our efforts, a lot of amputees have been taken out from the streets and given some form of profession,” he concluded.

Mustapha Hadji