2016 National Inter-Schools Disability Fun Games

There is a language that all men speak. A language understood by the day-old baby, the young adolescent and the nonagenarian; a language that cuts across all religious, ethnic and political affiliations. It is taught to none but understood by all.

On the 5^th of February, 2016, persons with hearing impairment, heard kindness; persons with visual impairment saw potential unveiled and persons who could not speak, shouted with joy. All who gathered for the 4^th Edition of the H4P National Inter-schools Disability Fun Games spoke that universal language – the language of love and unity.

As part of activities marking H4P’s 5^th Anniversary, the H4P Crew, Ghana's most exciting entertainment crew, once again congregated special students from fifteen (15) schools all over Ghana. The astounding exhibition of talent in the arena of sports truly reflected the theme for the occasion; "Ability Over Disability".

The H4P (Here for Perfection) Organization, an N.G.O., has since its inception in January 2011, demonstrated passion and dedication to Persons with Disability through life-transforming projects aimed at pulling down the socio-cultural barriers between the able and disabled. An indelible mark in the history of the country was made on 4^th May, 2013 when the maiden edition of the H4P National Inter-Schools Disability Fun Games was held with seven schools from three regions partaking in the event. The H4P Organization scaled up the number from thirteen special schools during the 2^nd edition to fifteen special schools from five regions in the 3^rd Edition.

The opening ceremony for this year's games, which took place on the 4^th of February at the GNAT Hostel, Teshie-Nungua, was dubbed the "H4P Youth Empowerment Seminar for Students with Disabilities". The three invited guests for the ceremony were Mr. Alexander Williams, a lecturer in the University of Ghana, Miss Nina Okarafor, an undergraduate of the University of Ghana and Mr. Paul Kordieh, a visually-impaired journalist with E-TV. Students of Wa School for the Deaf and Wa School for the Blind who were present at the event were guided on career choices and encouraged to magnify their strengths and abilities rather than wallow in the limitations of their disabilities.

The Burma Camp Leisure Centre, the venue for the main event, was on the 5^th of February transformed into a haven of joy and excitement as special schools trooped in for the annual event. The participating schools for the intellectually disabled category were New Horizon Special School, Dzorwulu Special School and Echoing Hills while the visually impaired schools comprised of Akropong School for the blind, Wa Methodist School for the blind and Cape Coast School for the blind and deaf.

Visually impaired students competing in the goal ball game

The Schools for the hearing impaired were represented by Dr. Seth Tetteh Ocloo School for the Deaf, Koforidua Special School for the deaf, Demonstration School for the deaf (Mampong), State School for the Deaf (Adjei-Kojo), Salvation Army School, Wa School for the deaf, School for the deaf (Sekondi Takoradi), Cape Coast School for the blind and deaf, Kibi School for the deaf and featuring for the first time, Volta School for the deaf (Hohoe).

Being the first and only of its kind currently in Ghana, the special students from six regions in the country not only showed off their sporting prowess in games such as the sack race, lime and spoon, three legged race, tug of peace, 7-a-side football, goal ball and volley ball, but also socialized with other special students from other schools. With a lot to eat and drink, the special students and all present partook in free medical screening provided by the H4P Medical Team. This team was comprised of Eye Specialists, ENT (Ear, Nose and Throat) Specialists and General Medical Practitioners and Nurses.

The Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports, Hon Vincent Oppong Asamoah, the Chairperson for the occasion, during his speech congratulated Apostle Charles Hackman, CEO of the H4P Organization, for the remarkable projects being embarked on to impact the lives of persons with disability. He wished H4P a happy anniversary and appealed for other individuals and organizations to come on board and support H4P’s projects.

The H4P Crew with Hon. Vincent Oppong Asamoah and Mr. Ivor Greenstreet. In the background, Hon. Kwabena Woyome is being interviewed.

Also present at the games was the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Tongu, Hon. Kwabena Woyome (Chairman for the Committee for Youth, Sports and Culture), Mr. Ivor Greenstreet, presidential candidate for the Convention People's Party (C.P.P.) and Mavis Hyde (CEO of Disability Equipment Sent Oversees (DESO).

After fierce competition guided by fairplay, Echoing Hills were the overall winners for the intellectually disabled category, Akropong School for the Blind lifted the trophy for the visually impaired category and Dr. Seth Tetteh Ocloo emerged best amongst the Schools for the hearing impaired.

The H4P Organization acknowledges DV Unlimited Company Limited, producers of DV kliners shower gels and detergents, for being the title sponsor for the event. The H4P Crew calls on individuals, groups and corporate Ghana to support its projects via donations and patronage of H4P paraphernalia and through purchasing tickets for the H4P fundraising melodrama concerts.

The H4P Crew promises fans of even more delightful H4P experiences in the course of the year with the next project being a mega fundraising melodrama concert slated for May 2016. The Crew encourages all fans to follow the activities of the organisation on social media (facebook: www.facebook.com/h4pcrew, Instagram:@h4pcrew and twitter: @h4p_crew) and its website for updates on H4P projects and educative information pertaining to disability.