Rotary Club of Accra Sunrise breaks ground for new female dormitory at Accra Rehabilitation Centre

The Rotary Club of Accra Sunrise has officially held a groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of a new female dormitory block at the Accra Rehabilitation Centre on 21st October 2025, marking another milestone in the club’s long-standing partnership with the Centre. It is a transformative project aimed at expanding accommodation and improving access to vocational training for young women with disabilities.
The initiative, known as the Building Hope: Female Dormitory Project, will renovate the existing female dormitory and construct a new block to increase the Centre’s female intake from 20 to 40 students annually. This marks a major step in addressing the Centre’s longstanding gender disparity, where 100 beds are allotted to male trainees but only 20 to females, resulting in dozens of qualified young women being turned away each year.

Rotary’s Commitment to Service and Impact
The Rotary Club of Accra Sunrise, chartered in 2017 and a proud member of Rotary International, continues to champion impactful community development initiatives in Ghana. Rotary International, with over 1.4 million members worldwide, is dedicated to creating lasting change through service in areas such as education, health, peacebuilding, and community development under the global motto Service Above Self.
In 2019, the Club successfully refurbished the male dormitory at ARC, transforming it into a safe and dignified residence for trainees. Building on that achievement, the Club has now turned its focus to the female dormitory to ensure equity, inclusion, and opportunity for all.

History and Importance of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre
Established in 1962 under the Department of Social Development, the Accra Rehabilitation Centre provides rehabilitation and vocational training for persons with physical disabilities across Ghana. Trainees acquire employable skills in tailoring, leatherwork, bead-making, and visual arts, and the products they create are sold to generate income, support the Centre’s sustainability, and build students’ confidence in entrepreneurship.

For many young women with disabilities, ARC represents their last hope for economic independence. Yet, due to inadequate accommodation, they are often turned away despite their desire to learn and build a better future. In a society where persons with disabilities already face stigma and limited opportunities, being denied entry to the one place designed to uplift them is deeply discouraging. The Building Hope project seeks to change this narrative.

Groundbreaking Ceremony
Delivering remarks at the ceremony, Charter President Xorse Godzi reflected on the club’s continued commitment to supporting the Centre since 2019, when the club successfully refurbished the male dormitory.
“It’s good to be back again. The first project we did was essentially a renovation of the male dormitory, but this one is a much bigger vision – building a new structure from scratch,” he said.
“Over the years, successive presidents and members have remained dedicated to this Centre. We are grateful to all Rotarians, individuals, and organizations contributing to this effort, and we look forward to making this project a success together.”
Current President Adeline Tettey reaffirmed the club’s dedication to completing the project, emphasizing that it represents Rotary’s ongoing mission to serve humanity through sustainable impact. She noted that the project, once completed, would provide comfort and dignity to female trainees who currently face limited accommodation space.

Mr. Seth, Principal of the Accra Rehabilitation Centre, expressed heartfelt gratitude to the Rotary Club of Accra Sunrise for its continuous support over the years.
“This project is a special one. We are always grateful for the many initiatives Rotary has undertaken for our school. On behalf of the staff and students, I assure you that we will take good care of this facility when it is completed,” he said.
Speaking on behalf of the project team, Service Projects Chair Godwin Amefia extended appreciation to the architects, contractors, donors, and partners who have made the initiative possible up to the groundbreaking stage. He emphasized that the project embodies the club’s vision of creating equal opportunities for women with disabilities and reaffirmed the club’s commitment to completing the construction on schedule.

Once completed, the new female dormitory will provide safe and accessible accommodation for up to 40 female trainees, allowing more young women living with disabilities to learn employable skills, gain independence, and contribute meaningfully to society. The project contributes to gender equity and economic empowerment for persons with disabilities in Ghana.

The Rotary Club of Accra Sunrise continues to welcome support from individuals, companies, and foundations to bring this important project to completion.