President Nana Akufo Addo has donated an amount of GH₵ 20,000 to a physically challenged painter Joel Acheampong to support his work.
The donation was made on behalf of the President by the Executive Director of the National Commission on Culture, Madam Janet Edna Nyame at the ongoing National Festival of Arts and Culture at the Adisadel School park in Cape Coast.
Joel Acheampong, popularly known as the mouth painter, has all four of his limbs dysfunctional.
At the young age of 5, he fell sick with a fever but never recovered and began to grow weaker with each passing day.
After many attempts at prayer camps, hospitals and herbal shops, his parents gave up and he had to live with his condition.
When Joel in his 20’s discovered he might have suffered from polio, he decided to make the most of life even with his challenge.
With the help of a benefactor, he decided to try painting but after his hands failed him several times because they could not grip the brush firmly, he turned to his mouth.
Joel trained several times in the confinement of his room and when the art bloomed, he emerged to start painting.
Today, his work is appreciated both nationally and internationally and has painted the likes of the Second Lady, Hajia Samira Bawumia and others.
Joel Acheampong who is exhibiting his work at the ongoing NAFAC was a guest on the ‘Between Hours’ Show with Nyaniba on Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast on Wednesday and called for support from the general public to expand his business.
” I need support to grow and sell my art so I can serve as an example to many others who find themselves in similar situations and also want to train more youth”, he stated.
Fortunately for Joel, his call received a prompt response from the President just a day after appearing on the show.
(Source: Kofi Owusu || Asaase News)
