An official handing over ceremony from the outgoing National President of Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Mr. Emmanuel K. Sackey to the incoming National President, Mr. Matthew Kubachua, has taken place at the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, Accra. The Ceremony, took place on Friday, 25^th January 2019 aimed to create a platform for formal transition from past leaders to the new leaders.

In his welcome address, the Executive Director, GNAD noted that the purpose of the short ceremony was to facilitate smooth and formal transition from one leadership to another in accordance with the constitution of the association. He observed that that is necessary given the expansion of the organization the past few years.

The outgoing President, Mr. Emmanuel K. Sackey thanked the Executive Director of GNAD, staff and members of the association and GFD and its member organizations for the show of support and cooperation during his tenure as National President. He noted that despite the challenges, his tenure saw some moderate improvement. He further explained that though much has been done during his 8 year regime, more still need to be done given the expansion of the association. He challenged the new leaders to remain focus to the mission and vision of the association, adopt spirit of team work and ensure that all unfinished projects continue. He wished the new leaders well.

Speaking on behalf of all directors, the Executive Director of GFD, Mrs. Rita Kusi Kyeremaa congratulated the new leaders. She noted that their elections at the national level demonstrated the confidence reposed on them by the delegates at the 2018 AGM. While thanking the past leaders for the roles they played in uplifting GNAD, she tasked the new leaders to emulate the examples of the out-going leaders, cooperate with the secretariat and ensure that they execute their core mandate.

Mr. Stephen Dombo on his part remained the new leaders of the task ahead of them as national leaders. He however assured them that the Department of Social Welfare and other national institutions are available to provide the needed support.

In his acceptance speech, the New President, Mr. Matthew Kubachua, on behalf of the new leaders, talked the staff and delegates for the confidence reposed on him and his team by electing them as new leaders. He pointed out that, they were chosen among the lots to serve the association for the next 4 years. He thanked his predecessors, staff and all directors for the support. He noted that his team would work to ensure that they move the association to the next level. He called for cooperation of all stakeholders in order to improve access for the Deaf community. He noted that his team would come out with their vision for the association for the next 4 years.

In attendance at the short ceremony include the Executive Director of Ghana Federation of Disability Organization, the National Umbrella Organization of organizations of Persons with Disability, the Executive Director of Ghana National Association of the Deaf, National Coordinator of Inclusion Ghana, Deputy National Director of NGOs, Mr. Stephen Dombo, Centre Manager of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, Representatives from other DPOs, Representatives Association of Ghanaian Sign Language Interpreters and GNAD members.

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