President of the National Paralympic Committee, Samson Deen, competed with national wheelchair racing athletes in the “Walk in my Shoe” initiative at the Cape Coast Sports Stadium over the weekend.
The initiative, which involves challenging able bodied men to compete with para athletes athletes in their various disciplines, is aimed at raising awareness and getting the public to appreciate the prowess of para sports in Ghana.
NPC Ghana also intends to use the program to promote the UKAID funded project ‘Para Sports Against Stigma (PSAS)’ and as a social media campaign in the lead up to the Tokyo 2020 Games.
Up against para sports giants Patrick Obeng, Felix Acheampong and Emmanuel Yaw Boateng, in the 400m wheelchair race, Mr. Deen crossed the finish line in a time of 03:41:52 after by lapped thrice by the trio.
“This has been a great experience and I’m grateful for the opportunity to race these athletes. This initiative will go a long way to teaching our able bodied men that the amount of work that goes into para sports is as daunting as anything and our para athletes deserve all the respect and recognition from the nation,” Deen said after the race.
Deen has nominated the Minister for Youth and Sports, Hon. Mustapha Ussif, the British High Commissioner to Ghana as well as the Japanese Ambassador to Ghana to take up the challenge.
