Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

Fon Organises Christmas Party in Guneku Palace for the Disabled

To mark this end of year 2019, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Mbengwi have feasted with H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters of Guneku village in the Meta Clan, Mbengwi. On Saturday December 21st 2019, the palace arena was as busy as a beehive as close to a hundred disabled persons drawn from several parts of the sub division were in Guneku to commune with the fon whom though abroad, had his eyes and ears on the ground.

PWDs Having a Common Meal in the Palace 

Mr. Ngwa Vitalis, the fon's representative in explaining how the gesture came about said early this year, the lone community radio station in Mbengwi, Rainbow Radio broadcast a special report on the challenges faced by disabled persons in the municipality especially in the course of the ongoing armed conflict known as the Anglophone crisis.

H.R.H Dr. Fomuki Walters Ticha Fomujang, during his Coronation as Fon of Guneku Village on 27 January 2015
Photo Credit: GordonShots

As revealed by Mr. Agwe Eric Tata, president of the Association of Persons with Special Abilities (APSA) Mbengwi, first, there's that trauma coupled with inability to run for safety during gun exchanges due to visual or mobility impairment. As such, most are often abandoned to themselves or instead run into more danger. Via social media, the report got to the  fon's ears in Germany where he's based and he felt their pains. 

After being touched by their bitter testimonies, a convivial relationship was thus established between the fon and the PWDs. On June 4th 2019, about 25 of them assembled at the radio house in Mile 18, Ku-Bome, Mbengwi were a financial package from the fon was distributed to them. From the positive feedback gotten after the exercise, the royal authority was inspired to step in again and help this December 2019.

Entrance into the Guneku Fon's Palalace

One good turn deserves another said Mr. Ngwa Vitalis as he went further to explain that the fon thought it wise for the beneficiaries to know his palace since during the first donation exercise, they were only told the package was from the fon neither knowing where Guneku is nor how his palace looks like. So this time around, he decided to bring them right into the inner circles of his palace for a common end of year feast.

While in the palace, the physically challenged were offered a sumptuous meal. Though beneficiaries, they too also offered gifts to the palace through princess Fomuki Carine, herself being a disability expert that has worked with the SEEPD Program of the CBC Health Service. The physically challenged persons, both Meta indegenes, non Metas and the Mbororos spent time entertaining the palace with songs, drama, and a debate on who needs more help, between the cripple and the blind.

Dance by Bryma, Mentally Unstable

Staging by the Mbororos

Presenting Gifts to the Palace

Drama

Before leaving, they were offered a check of 500.000Frs by the fon for their socioeconomic empowerment while promising to always be by them when need arises. In appreciating the initiative and the financial donation, the association's president on behalf of the members said "I give praises to this palace and to His Royal Highness because it's thanks to him that we were able to resume our meetings and activities since the association had died down because of the crisis. After the first donation he promised to do more and today, he has matched words with action." To him, the gesture came just in time to put a big smile on the faces of persons with special abilities within the Mbengwi municipality.

On how some of them plan to judiciously utilise their own share of the money, Mrs. Ngong Cecilia Feh, a visually impaired from Kobenyang village said, "This package will help to enhance our daily activities as some of us keep birds, animals and do agriculture. So, with this, we will be able to afford good species of seedlings, animals and birds plus their feed. By so doing, our livelihoods will be improved upon"

Cross Section of Beneficiaries at the Event 

In biding them farewell, Mr. Ndingwan Primus, the Guneku Traditional Council Chairman tasked the beneficiaries to be courageous no matter the nature of their body for each and everyone has a task here to perform on earth and it should be well done.

It should be recalled that not only did the traditional authority provide aide to the PWDs but also to the channel through which their cries were amplified. Modern microphones were sent to Rainbow Radio in June 2019 and ever since they were installed, the quality of broadcast has been improved upon.

Kwem Dance Group 

The event was greased by the Kwem Dance Group of Guneku. The beneficiaries now look forth to properly utilising the assistance so that apart from the fon, other concerned individuals and institutions may also see need to come to their aide.