Speech by Nana Kwesi Coomson, CEO of 233times.net at Sekondi School for the deaf

• Posted on April 20, 2015April 22, 2015
• by Nana Kwesi Coomson
• Comment

www.233times.net in collaboration with www.satelliteghana.com had a lunch party for Students of Sekondi School for the deaf last Saturday, 18th April, 2015. Feeding over 350 Students and staff of the School has been the biggest challenge ever, CEO of www.233times.net, Nana Kwesi Coomson reveals. At the premises, Nana Kwesi Coomson spoke to the Students and teaching and non-teaching staff and below is unedited what he said extempore at the venue;

I nearly told Cephas, the designer of the poster for this event to change the name from ‘Lunch with Students of Sekondi School for the deaf’ to ‘Time with Sekondi School for the deaf because I wasn’t sure your expectation of party, and I hope we don’t disappoint you with what we have brought to you.

My name is Nana Kwesi Coomson and I operate a website www.233times.net which is a news portal. Not only the money we receive directly from this website but how we are able to impact the society positively that has been our major focus since. We have donated to 3 other places already; Remar Orphanage in Nsawam, Takoradi Hospital and Fathers Home Orphanage at B.U, Takoradi and this is our 4^th.

In all these, we have not done it alone but with great people who have trusted our cause and have heavily put in money to support us in every walk of the way. We are eternally grateful to all those who have supported and still support. These donations do not mean we are extremely rich, which is the perception of the typical Ghanaian who always says “I will donate when I am rich” but to let people know that, you can do so much with very little resources available to you.

I must say this is the most challenging donation ever because in all that we have done, the biggest number has been 100, so feeding over 350 people here was a migraine but when determined minds meet, everything is possible. Challenge your limits friends because unless you have tried, don’t say you can’t do it.

Bruno Koomson has been a friend since childhood and we have shared so many values and dreams since. I even call him a brother because we have passed the level of friendship. When he started a website www.satelliteghana.com I knew we could do so many with these two patronized websites. Talking to him on every event ends up with the two of us sharing the same minds; I think we are one soul living in 2 tiny bodies. Ekua Mansa Amoaba Amoah, that ‘chick’ there, has been our strongest help since we started these. She will make sure you have everything done ahead of time. She could disturb us with Whats App messages and calls every second to make sure everything is done and done well. Amoaba, Nyame Nhyira wo, we appreciate the love and support.

Our donors this time were less in number than all the ones we have done. I remember when Bruno sent me a message one evening saying ‘Bro me I dey fear o, we go fi do?.’ That statement made me shake as well but I had to be motivational so I sent back ‘Oh make you no fear, we go do am cheap.’ As at Tuesday, the money at hand was GHC120 out of estimated GHC2, 200 so you should understand when Bruno sends that message. We did magic honestly, and our donors are the magicians.

Sekondi School for the Deaf, I have no idea the perception you people have about life but if you think you have ceiling to your dreams, I am here to tell you that, you can do anything you put your mind to, yes anything like what you are thinking now, anything brothers and sisters.

I don’t know if you have heard of Helen Keller, she was born deafblind and she became the first deafblind person to earn a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her birthday, June 27 is celebrated in USA as ‘Helen Keller day.’ She was a politician and an advocate for people with disabilities and world’s famous speaker and author.

Steve Wonder is a blind man and he is celebrated as one of the world’s famous composers. He has been an influence to many people in the world and even flew an aircraft with ex President J.J. Rawlings.

I know you might have said in your head that these are people outside Ghana and you are talking about them but in Ghana, do you know the Minister of Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, Hon. Henry Seidu Danaa? He is a blind man and he is celebrated as the first visually impaired person to be approved as Minister of State in Ghana. He was born in Tuasa in Upper West and enrolled into the Law Faculty of the University of Ghana. He went to London School of Economics and Political Science to get masters in Law. He has a Doctorate and Degree programmes in Law.

Do you know Stonebwoy? He is the reigning Artiste of the year and he is physically challenged.

So what is your excuse Sekondi School for the deaf? You have no excuse my friends, you can also be in the annals of Ghana’s history and I am hopeful that in the next 3 decades maximum, we will be hearing that some of the major posts in Ghana are occupied by alumni of Sekondi School for the deaf, yes I am so hopeful I will be appointing some of you into ministerial positions but that comes at the cost of hard work and self-belief. Make us proud friends!

To one person I want us to celebrate, Ama Owusua Amoah who cooked for our friends here, we are highly grateful and ask for God’s abundant blessings on you. We cannot thank you enough but ask for God’s blessings on you. To my friends here who have taken time off their busy schedules, I am so proud of you for coming this far and ask for God’s blessings on you. To Sayvee, Sound Lion Records, Papa Staunch Music, Cheaperlines coldstore, ghanandwom.com, hypingghana.com and our individual donors, chale, I don’t know how to thank you. God bless you abundantly.

To the teaching and non-teaching staff here, we know how best you are helping the students here because we came to meet the Students in good health, we will come back and have something for you people. This is our 4th donation so when we say we will come back, we mean we will come back.

On 26th December, 2014, Parliament of Ghana had a silver collection in your name and 4 months down, the money has not been brought. I am assuring you that, some of us are using all available media to make sure the money is brought, we are fighting endlessly for it friends.

Let me stop here and give you time to eat whatever we brought you wonderful people. Thank you for allowing us here administration and our friends here too for warmly welcoming us here but before I sit, know that success is not about the material possession but the lives you impact positively. Don’t forget to pray for the donors and www.233times.net and www.satelliteghana.com We are grateful. Thank you.