A call has been made to Ghanaians to support education at all levels because it is "the light of the world."

Mr. Ebenezer Addo Asamoah, National Administrator of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), who made the call on Monday said, "Lamentably, the general public and even parents of children with disability underrate the importance of education."

He made the remark when he chaired the launching of the "Education for the Physically Disabled (EPD)" project in Accra. The project is the brainchild of the Youth Wing of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD-YW).

The project revolves around an educational fund that will thrive on sms revenue generation. Individuals can donate GHp45 every time they text "PD: I care" to the code 1443 on all networks. Besides, individuals and groups can also walk into the GSPD's offices and make cash donations. The initial target is GH¢100,000 but officials say with GH¢10,000, disbursements to beneficiaries could take off.

Kasapa Telecom Limited is the lead communication network for the project. According to Mr. Solomon Adu Atefoe, Marketing Officer, the company bought into the idea because "education is the key to every door in life."

In his view, failing to educate today's generation means denying posterity the opportunity for education. He therefore appealed to individuals, philanthropists and corporate bodies to contribute their quota to the fund.

Public Agenda learnt prior to the launching of the EPD that it was designed to provide scholarships for needy physically disabled students as well as to support those undergoing apprenticeships.

Unlike other funds, the EPD will not be discriminatory; it will not emphasise academic performance as a pre-requisite, Mr. Edmund Essel Asiedu, Public Relations Officer, GSPD-YW told Public Agenda in an interview last week.

Mr. Essel Asiedu said, "Whether you are brilliant or not you can access the fund," adding, "it is across board. "At the end of the day we expect that everyone will be able to access the fund," he stated.

Nonetheless, he noted that special attention will be focused on females with physical disability in line with the spirit of affirmative action.

The PRO also said, "It will cater for both formal education and informal training such as apprenticeship."

It is expected that a management team, headed by a fund administrator will be formed to manage the fund. On the larger scale, the EPD will probably have a governing board, members of which will consist of religious leaders, traditional leaders, legal practitioners and media practitioners.

Mr. Joseph Adu-Boampong, National President of GSPD called for probity, accountability and transparency in the management of the fund.

Likewise, Mr. S.O. Nyarko, who represented the director of the Special Education Division of the Ghana Education Service, cautioned against diversion of funds and prayed for adherence to and respect for the objectives for setting up the fund.

Mr. Charles Kwadwo Fosu, President of GSPD-YW, noted that through the fund, opportunities will abound for the physically disabled to build their capacities.

Meanwhile, the Ashaiman Students Union has pledged an undisclosed amount to support the fund and promised to organize fund raising programmes in aid of the EPD.