The International Network for Deaf Empowerment (INDE), a Non-Governmental Organization (NGO), seeking the welfare of the hearing impaired, has begun organizing a nationwide non-formal literacy classes for them.

Mr Francis Botchwey, Executive Director of the INDE, noted that persons with disability, including the hearing impaired, were often marginalized due to the illiteracy rate among them.

It is against this backdrop that the INDE is partnering the Christian Literacy and Deaf Mission, and the Non Formal Education,  to train young people in the sign language, who would in turn organize non-formal classes for the hearing impaired.

Mr Botchwey was closing a three-day workshop held in Sekondi for 16 people who would teach the hearing impaired to read and write.

He said the programme started from the Western Region, and extended to the others, while centres would be opened in the districts for the non-formal literacy classes.

He hoped the ability to read and write would equip the hearing impaired not only to acquire skills, but to whip up public interest in learning the sign language.

According to the Executive Director, many of the hearing impaired were unable to go through schools for the deaf, resulting in the high illiteracy rate among the deaf in society.

To this end, he appealed to governmental and private institutions, churches and civil societies to nominate people for training in the sign language, to teach the deaf.

He also appealed to philanthropists and corporate institutions to support the programme to reduce the illiteracy among the deaf.