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USAID, MoE, support visually impaired students with Braille learning materials
The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in collaboration with the Ministry of Education (MoE) has presented 1,400 Braille Teaching and Learning Materials to nine Special Education Schools that support visually impaired learners.
USAID Education Office Director, Rasheena Reid, joined the Deputy Minister of Education, Reverend John N. Fordjour last Wednesday at the Akropong School to handover the materials which were developed in collaboration with the Ministry of Education’s Special Education Division.
The “Partnership for Education: Learning” programme, partnered with the Ministry to create the materials to help improve the reading performance of visually impaired learners in the country.
“Education opens doors for professional, economic, and cultural opportunities. Visually impaired students deserve those same opportunities.
“We congratulate the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service on their commitment to inclusive education, especially as the Government of Ghana supports the Global Disability Summit,” USAID’s Rasheena Reid said while Rev. Fordjour stressed the importance of inclusive education for all learners.
The collaboration with the Ministry of Education focuses on promoting quality education for children. Sixty-five teachers from nine special education schools for the blind and selected District Special Education Coordinators would receive training on the use of the materials.
The schools include: Wa Methodist School For The Blind, Bechem School For The Deaf/Blind, Cape Coast School For The Deaf/Blind, Demonstration School For The Deaf/Blind, Volta School For The Deaf/Blind, Ashanti School For The Deaf/Blind, Three Kings Special School, Ghana National Basic Inclusive, Akropong School For The Blind.
The activity was part of the ‘Learning T2E Plus programme’, which supports the MoE and the GES to improve early grade reading of learners in Ghana. The programme has trained over 20,000 teachers and reached over 750,000 pupils from over 5,000 schools across the country.
By Spectator Reporter
News
GBBF assistant treasurer, Aurora Commodore-Toppar eyes GOC Treasure slot at Elective Congress on Saturday
The Assistant treasurer of the Ghana Basketball Federation (GBBF), Madam Aurora Commodore-Toppar, has set her sights on becoming the next assistant treasurer of the Ghana Olympic Committee (GOC) at the upcoming Elective Congress on Saturday.
The daughter of the former Chief Executive Officer of Accra Hearts of Oak, Mr. Emmanuel Martey Commodore-Mensah, will be vying for the position against Bernard Quartey of the Ghana Boxing Federation and Edward Patrick Nii Lante Banerman of the Handball Association of Ghana.
Having had her nomination approved by the GOC’s Electoral Commission, the well-seasoned banker, with over 15 years of rich working experience, believes she is well-suited and positioned to help structure the finances of this esteemed organisation.
In a chat with Spectator Sports, the captain of the bronze-winning 2024 University of Ghana basketball team at the 11th African University Games in Zaire, Nigeria, revealed her commitment to effective and accurate financial management, growth, and development of all associated sports federations.
She said, “I am committed to the growth of the GOC, and I want to offer my financial knowledge to aid in ensuring that the GOC operates with the highest standards of financial governance and set-up.”
According to her, the mission is to help promote the GOC’s agenda widely, and having served for over two decades in sports—especially basketball—in various capacities and roles, she believes this experience will help protect the GOC’s finances.
“If elected as assistant treasurer, I will do my utmost, together with the treasurer, to manage the GOC’s finances, including accounting and financial reporting among others,” she added.
According to her, “Accurate financial record-keeping has been a problem across the board; I will help eradicate this issue.”
Aurora Commodore-Toppar stands for transparency, hard work, and an inclusive work culture, she further added.
The former Aburi Girls’ Secondary School basketball team captain has played pivotal roles in improving sports in the country—especially basketball—including being a member of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the 2023 Africa Games, an LOC member for the recently concluded Hoop Rave SHS competition, a project lead for FIBA’s “Her World, Her Rules” initiative, chair for the 2024 Fetu Afahye Basketball Tournament, and founder of the Stomp De Yard Basketball Tournament, among others.
BY RAYMOND ACKUMEY
News
113 Cardinals hold 3rd General Congregation in Rome
The 113 Cardinals present in Rome held the third General Congregation on Thursday morning, and announced who will deliver the two pre-conclave meditations.
The Cardinals decided that Cardinal Víctor Manuel Fernández will celebrate the Mass on the sixth day of the Novemdiales, instead of Cardinal Kevin Farrell.
They agreed that Fr. Donato Ogliari, O.S.B., Abbot of St. Paul Outside the Walls, will deliver the first meditation on Monday, and that Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, Preacher Emeritus of the Papal Household, will deliver the second meditation at the beginning of the conclave, whose starting date has not yet been decided.
The Cardinals began a conversation about the Church and the world, deciding to hold the next General Congregation on Friday morning at 9:00 AM.
The Director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, told journalists that 61,000 people have paid their respects to the late Pope Francis as of 1:00 PM on Thursday, adding that St. Peter’s Basilica should close at midnight on Thursday, unless large crowds are still queuing to enter.
Following the Pope’s funeral on Saturday, April 26, a Rosary will be held in front of the Basilica of St. Mary Major on Saturday at 9:00 PM.
Mr. Bruni said the burial service for Pope Francis will take place in private.
Starting the morning of Sunday, April 27, the faithful may begin to visit the tomb of Pope Francis at the Marian Basilica.
