For 10 years, the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM) has brought hope, dignity, and opportunity to persons living with disabilities through its flagship Day of Help initiative, transforming compassion into nationwide action.

The 10th Anniversary celebration, held in Takoradi, brought together thousands of beneficiaries, volunteers, and partners from all 16 regions of Ghana to mark a decade of inclusion and empowerment.

Over the years, the Day of Help has travelled the length and breadth of the country, delivering free medical care, assistive devices, surgeries, food support, and vocational training to more than 50,000 persons with disabilities, making it one of Ghana’s most impactful humanitarian movements.

This year’s 10th Anniversary celebration marked the evolution of the Day of Help from a single outreach initiative into the transformational CEM Ability Village Project.

After a decade of touching lives across Ghana, CEM is now laying a permanent foundation for empowerment, with construction of the first phase scheduled to begin in December 2025 at Agortor-Kope in the Shai-Osudoku District.

Fred Nuer, Chief Executive Officer of the CEM Ability Village, announced that the original plan to site the project solely in Accra on a 2,000-acre land has been revised to include regional Ability Centres in all 16 regions.

“By expanding this vision beyond Accra, we are ensuring that persons with disabilities across Ghana can access opportunities closer to home,” he said.

“This decentralised model will allow communities nationwide to experience inclusion in real, tangible ways.”

He added that this new approach aligns with Ghana’s disability inclusion agenda and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), promoting decent work and reduced inequalities.

Speaking on behalf of Persons with Disabilities, Alexander Kojo Tetteh, President of the Centre for Employment of Persons with Disabilities, expressed his gratitude from the Disability Community across the country to Rev. Dr Steve Mensah and the church for continuously empowering and making a positive impact on the lives of the poor and needy over the last decade.

He urged government to join forces and partner with the CEM Ability Village, a project aimed at building decent homes and other essential facilities such as a specialist hospital, vocational training centres, industrial and technology hubs, and schools aimed at empowering disabled individuals.

Delivering a special message on behalf of President John Dramani Mahama, Hon. Elvis Afriyie Ankrah, Presidential Envoy in charge of Interfaith and Ecumenical Bodies, commended CEM’s leadership and reaffirmed government’s support for the Ability Village vision. “The work of CEM is a shining example of faith in action,” he said.

“Building a disability-friendly Ghana requires partnerships like this, where compassion meets structure, and service becomes sustainable.”

Rev. Dr. Steve Mensah, Founder and General Overseer of CEM, and Chairman of the Ability Village Project, described the anniversary as both a moment of reflection and renewed national commitment.

“The Ability Village is not a shelter, it is a launchpad for empowerment,” he said.

“For ten years, we have carried the vision to restore dignity and opportunity to persons living with disabilities. This is how we bear one another’s burdens, by creating pathways to independence, not pity. We believe every person has God-given potential; our task is to help them unlock it.”

Hon. Naa Torshie Addo-Lartey, Founder of the Reneaddo Foundation and a long-time partner of the Day of Help, praised CEM’s consistency and compassion.

“Throughout these years, I have been in awe of the magnitude of what CEM has been doing,” she said. “Partnering with the CEM Ability Village has always been a natural fit because our visions align to restore dignity, open opportunity, and empower those often left behind.”

The event concluded with the relaunch of the “10 for Ability” campaign, a nationwide call inviting individuals, corporate bodies, and donors to contribute towards the construction of regional empowerment centres.

The campaign encourages every Ghanaian to donate GH₵10 a month for 12 months, a simple act that collectively builds hope, facilities, and futures for persons with disabilities across the nation.

About the CEM Ability Village

The CEM Ability Village is an initiative of the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry (CEM), founded by Rev. Dr. Steve Mensah.

It provides integrated rehabilitation, healthcare, skills training, and employment for persons living with disabilities.

Located at Agortor-Kope in the Shai-Osudoku District, the Village is envisioned as Africa’s largest, faith-inspired empowerment centre for persons with disabilities.