XpressGas Limited, a leading supplier, distributor and marketer of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) in Ghana, has supported two special needs schools with free LP Gas for a year and donations worth GH₵15,000.

The schools are the New Horizon Special School and Dzorwulu Special School.

The Board Chair of XpressGas Limited, Prof. Josephine Nketsia-Tabiri, said the donation to the schools was important to XpressGas because the company believes in giving back to the society that supports its business. According to her, XpressGas identifies the educational sector as a key area to provide support especially schools for children with special needs, as this sector is often neglected.

“XpressGas is very happy to support the New Horizon Special School and Dzorwulu Special School. As an organization committed to promoting socio-economic development, we want to impact lives and improve the well-being of the less-privileged in society through meaningful interventions such as this. The well-being of these special children is important to us, hence the reason we are here today to interact with the children and show them the love of Christ at Easter,” she said.

Prof. Josephine Nketsia-Tabiri said children with special needs have very special capabilities and talents needed for society’s development. She reminded everyone about the exemplary story of Farida Bedwei who has cerebral palsy but is one of Ghana’s successful software engineers. Prof. Nketsia-Tabiri therefore admonished parents and the general public to welcome and relate well with children with special needs rather than making unsavoury comments about them as this negatively affects their self-worth and human dignity.  

She lauded the founder of New Horizon Special School, Madam Salome Francois, for identifying this challenge in society and demonstrating passion and selfless dedication towards providing an all-around support system for the children.

“Madam Salome Francois is a heroine of change. Even at age 88 she is still giving her all to help these children find a sense of purpose in life. This is an incredible story worth telling as XpressGas believes developing a country is not the sole responsibility of the government but corporate organisations and every Ghanaian for that matter,” she said.

Appreciation

The Founder and Director of New Horizon Special School, Madam Salome Francois, expressed her appreciation to XpressGas Limited for the support which according to her would go into the school’s record as one of the biggest to the school.

On her part, Mrs. Vanessa Adu-Akorsah, the school Principal, praised staff of XpressGas Limited for the visit and also spending time with the children. “Children with special needs when given the right physiotherapy are able to react and respond very well. Through the therapy assessment and day-to-day care-support, these children progress and take up various vocational training. For instance, they take classes in basketry, kente weaving, sewing, catering, and beads making,” she said.

Items donated to the Dzorwulu Special School include bags of rice, cooking oil, cartons of milk, bags of beans and gari, cartons of frozen chicken and toiletries among many other items all of which were part of a wish list presented to the XpressGas team prior to the donation day.

Madam Veronica Sackey, Headmistress of the School, expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the gesture, and pledged to put the items to good use.