The World Autism Awareness Walk and Appeal in the Northern Region of Ghana 2015, a Success

It started like a dream and came to reality being crowned with success on April 25, 2015. In Ghana, many people think of children with special needs as evil, bad spirited and snakes. If the children are autistic or suffer from cerebral palsy, they are mostly sent to spiritualists who claim they send them to the spirit world, in other words, kill them. It is in this wise that Amoafowaa Sefa Cecilia decided to create the awareness in partnership with the only special school in the Northern Region; the Yumba Special School, during the World Autism Awareness month in the Northern Region. Portia Mwinbeter-ib Dery and Naana Nihad Kareem really helped both financially and with the arrangement. Ibrahim Mustapher also helped tremendously. Many media partners helped, Savannah Radio, Kesmi Radio, Bishara Radio, Tawasul Community Radio and Fiila fm.

The walk took place on the 25th April 2015 and the awareness was created. Watch the walk in pictures.

It was touching when a teacher shouted “Stop killing them, they are no snakes, and this singing autistic girl asked, “Aren’t we entertaining you?” And she was, she was entertaining to just watch. 

They know no evil. 

Refreshment after the walk. Even the policemen noted that the children had more stamina than the the “normal” ones. They walked ahead and enjoyed themselves as they sang and told people how human they were.

At the end of the walk, the organisers realised that the Yumba Special School has been sold to the people. People were aware of its existence, as to if they understood, more work need to be put into it. It was realised that the meaning of autism and how those on the spectrum must be treated must be given orally through microphones to reach more people. In all, the World Autism Awareness Walk in the Northern Region of Ghana was a huge success being the first of its kind.

(Pictures by Amin)