Autistic cyclist, Young Phil Bertino, and organisers of the Autistic Awareness Creation Campaign, Liztino Centre for Children with special needs have paid a courtesy call on the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of Nsawam Adoagyiri, Isaac K. Kwadwo Buabeng.
The visit was to inform him about the upcoming campaign scheduled for Nsawam in April and also to solicit for his support and collaboration.
Led by Mrs Angel Bertino, mother of Young Phil and Founder of the Liztino Center, the meeting was also to announce activities for the fourth autism awareness campaign through cycling.
Speaking at the meeting, the MCE, Mr Kwadwo Buabeng, commended the team for their contributions towards disability and sports in the country.
According to the MCE, the campaign would go a long way to transform society with regard to perceptions about persons with autism and other disabilities.
He pledged support for the exercise while urging corporate Ghana and individuals to support the group.
The initiative, he said, would also compliment the government’s efforts of ensuring that disabled persons were provided with the needed support to live their lives comfortably.
The team also paid a courtesy call on the Director of the Orthopedic Training Center (OTC), Sister Elizabeth Newman, who urged the government to make facilities available for autistic children to live comfortably.
“We need to be proactive in our approach of tackling autism and other disabilities because these children could contribute to the development of the country when supported to realise their full potential,” she stressed.
She applauded the parents of Young Phil, Mr and Mrs Bertino for their support in raising their ward.
The Public Relations Officer for OTC, Asante Kissi Eleazer, also lauded the initiative and called on Ghanaians to come on board to support.
The 16 year-old Phil, now Africa’s only autistic cyclist, has led the campaign for the past three years and was set to engage in the 2023 edition on April 26.
This year’s campaign is expected to see over 100 cyclists ride from Accra to Nsawam where they would engage communities and individuals along the way.
BY MICHAEL D.ABAYATEYE
