The National Lottery Authority (NLA) has presented a cheque of One Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GH¢100,000) to Blind Support, a non-governmental organisation that supports persons with disabilities.

This is to enable them to carry out a skills training programme aimed at equipping Persons with Disabilities and Affiliates with basic entrepreneurial and employable skills.

The Director-General of NLA, Mohammed Abdul-Salam, in presenting the cheque of GH¢100,000, commended Blind Support for initiating this project to support persons with disabilities and help keep them off the streets.

“This initiative by Blind Support is a laudable one. The individuals undertaking this project are men of honour and high repute, which helps to dispel the impression that persons with disabilities are bound to the streets as beggars.  The initiative will help ensure that they are equipped with productive and industry-relevant skills, providing them with sustainable employment opportunities’’, he said.

Citing Section 2 (3) of the National Lotto Act, 2006 (Act 722), which mandates the NLA “to operate a lotto with the object of providing care and protection for the physically or mentally afflicted, the needy, the aged, orphans and destitute children,” Mr. Abdul-Salam, said the NLA will continue to partner with Blind Support to enable them expand this project.

Anthony Gyening, the Project Coordinator of Blind Support and a lecturer at the University of Education, Winneba, recounted the difficult living conditions faced by persons with disabilities.

He expressed sincere gratitude to the NLA for their generous donation, highlighting the significant and positive impact it will have on the lives of the beneficiaries.

He also thanked the Good Cause Foundation for its support over the years and looked forward to a continued partnership.

Mr. Abdul-Salam, the Director-General of NLA, also presented a cheque for Fifty Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS 50,000) to the National Youth Authority (NYA) in support of their upcoming National Youth Festival, aligning with the Youth and Sports Development Pillar of the Good Causes Foundation to promote youth development.

The NLA Good Causes Foundation is the Authority’s charity arm, spearheading its corporate social responsibility. The Foundation operates on four pillars: Health, Education, Youth and Sports Development, and Arts and Culture.

The Health Pillar focuses on providing infrastructure support, training mental health workers, providing hospital supplies, and expanding nationwide medical outreach services for specific ailments.

The Education Pillar focuses on providing educational support to brilliant but financially disadvantaged students. NLA also supports educational institutions with the necessary logistics and sponsors programs and projects that meet the Foundation's objectives.

The Youth and Sports Development Pillar encompasses enhancing the capacity of young people and supporting sporting activities, with a focus on promoting lesser-known sports. It also provides technical and skills support to SMES owned by young individuals to encourage innovation.  Special emphasis is also placed on persons with disabilities and those with special needs who may be interested in entrepreneurship.

The Arts and Culture Pillar supports projects that safeguard and protect Ghanaian cultural events and educational programs.

The NLA Governing Board also determines discretionary projects that the Authority undertakes annually.