環(huán)球英語 — 488：Riding Across Ghana
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Welcome to Spotlight. I’m Joshua Leo
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And I’m Liz Waid. Spotlight uses a special English method of broadcasting it is easier for people to understand no matter where in the world they live.
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It is 2001. Emmanuel Yeboah rides his bicycle down village roads in Ghana. The two wheels of this machine have taken him a long way! In cities he meets with children, city officials, and church leaders. He has been riding for over a month. He has already travelled over one hundred kilometres down difficult roads. As he rides, he wears a red shirt. The letters on his shirt read “The Pozo”, Ghanaian slang for a disabled person. Emmanuel is riding his bicycle to change people’s opinions about disabled people. He himself is disabled.
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Today’s Spotlight is on Emmanuel Yeboah and his fight for the rights of disabled people.
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Emmanuel was born in Ghana in 1977. When he was born, his parents were sad. Emmanuel was born without a tibia, the large bone in the lower part of his right leg. His foot hung uselessly from his leg.
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In Ghana at that time, people thought of disability in a bad way. If a child was born with a disability, people thought that the child’s mother had done something wrong. They thought that the disability was a punishment. So when Emmanuel was born, his father left the family.
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But Emmanuel’s mother, Comfort, was strong. People in the community told Comfort to leave the baby, or even kill him. But she did not do either of these things. She cared for her baby. She wanted Emmanuel to grow up, and become a great man. She did not have much money, but she made sure that Emmanuel attended school. At first, she even carried him there! Later, Emmanuel would go on his own. He jumped on one leg all the way. He continued, even though the other children did not treat him well.
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But when Emmanuel was 13, he left school. Comfort was sick, and the family needed his help. So Emmanuel travelled to the city of Accra to earn money. Many disabled people in Accra begged on the street - they asked other people for money and help. But Emmanuel did not want to do this. Instead, he found a job shining shoes. He made just enough money to save a little for his family.
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But Comfort’s health did not improve. She was dying. Emmanuel visited her one last time, during Christmas. Before she died, Comfort pulled him close and said “Do not let anyone put you down because of your disability.”
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These words from his mother felt strong in Emmanuel’s heart. He went back to shining shoes but he dreamed of doing something more. And one day he got an idea. He decided to a bicycle around Ghana to let people know more about disability.
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But first, Emmanuel needed a bicycle. A Christian doctor told Emmanuel of a group in California called the Challenged Athlete Foundation, or CAF. This group helps disabled sports players. Because of Emmanuel’s desire to help others, the group sent Emmanuel a bicycle, and money for the trip.
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Before he left, Emmanuel exercised and prepared his body. He also tried to meet with the king of Ghana. He wanted the support of his country. And finally, the king agreed to meet with Emmanuel. It was the first time a disabled person had entered the king’s home. The king asked Emmanuel why Emmanuel was planning this trip. And what did Emmanuel want from the king? Emmanuel replied:
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“I want to prove that just because you have a disability does not mean you cannot use your god given gifts. And I need your support”
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Emmanuel got the king’s support. He rode his bicycle through villages and cities. He spoke about the rights of disabled people. And he requested that disabled people be given the same respect as able-bodied people. Many people heard of Emmanuel and his long bicycle ride. He was becoming famous in Ghana.
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After Emmanuel finished the bicycle trip, the CAF invited him to travel to the United States for a race. Emmanuel accepted and competed. When the race was over, some doctors looked at Emmanuel’s leg. They asked him if he would like to be fitted with a prosthetic, or man-made, leg. In the race Emmanuel saw other people running and bicycling with prosthetic legs. He thought he could do the same thing.
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So he agreed. The doctors removed Emmanuel’s useless leg and replaced it with a prosthetic. Normally this kind of operation would have cost thousands of dollars. But the doctors did it for free. And people at the hospital even gave money to help Emmanuel and his family while he was in the United States.
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Six weeks after the operation Emmanuel joined another triathlon race. But this time he was competing with two legs. He finished the race in three hours less time then before. With his new leg, it was much easier. And then, Emmanuel returned home to Ghana. He walked down the streets of his home for the first time. He walked on his own two feet into his church for the first time. And at the end of that year, he stood up and got married to a woman named Elizabeth.
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But Emmanuel’s story does not stop there. Emmanuel has continued to work for disabled people in Ghana. For his work, he received award money from the Nike shoe company and other organizations. With this money, he created the Emmanuel Education Fund in Ghana.
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“My goal is to make sure that children with disabilities can go to school, receive good medical care, and play sports whenever they want.”
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Emmanuel has promised to put 15 disabled students through school each year. He has also helped give hundreds of wheelchairs to people in Ghana. Even King Osagyefou of Ghana has helped Emmanuel. The king has provided money and support for the Emmanuel Education fund. The king has also helped Emmanuel receive academic and sports training. The king describes Emmanuel as:
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“A man who leads by example and who is not driven by self but driven to help others.”
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Emmanuel is also working to help other disabled sports players. He created bicycling and running teams for disabled athletes. And he created a wheelchair basketball team. And he even created a Ghanaian Paralympics team, to compete at the international level with other disabled sports players. Emmanuel followed his mother’s words. He did not let anyone put him down for his disability. He has become the great man she hoped and prayed he would be.
