Promoting inclusion and effective participation of the disabled in Ghana

Ghana joined the world on December 3, to observe this year’s annual United Nations day of persons with disability. Initiated in 1992, the observance of the day in every year is meant to promote understanding of disability issues and to mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

It also seeks to increase awareness on matters of the integration of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural spheres of life. Previously Called "International Day of Disabled Persons" the day has enjoyed varying degrees of success around the planet each year.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO) – more than one billion people – or approximately 15 per cent of the world's population – live with some forms of disability and have generally poorer health, lower educational achievements, fewer economic opportunities and higher rates of poverty than the able-bodied people. Of their population, 80 per cent disabled persons live in developing nations of which Ghana is a part.

In recognition of the need to meet the needs of the disabled, the 1992 constitution of Ghana prohibited discrimination followed by the enactment of the persons with disability act in 2006. Government also signed and ratified the convention on the rights of persons with disabilities.

To gauge the effect of all these steps, the National Commission for Civic Education on its part conducted a study early this year to explore ways of promoting the inclusion and effective participation of people with disability in national development. Specifically the study sought to assess the state of some key rights of people with disability granted by the disability act of 2006 (act 715) and examine the factors that will lead to the exclusion of PWDs in national development.

Among the findings of the study are;

Eight years after the enactment of the law on disability, not many people in high and low places are aware about the law leading to the fear that the rights of people with disability might not be recognized for them to gain access to amenities and good education among other things. The report revealed that many people with disability in Ghana are restricted in mobility with many people still associating disability to witchcraft juju and punishment from God and supernatural forces.

The Ministry of Local Government and rural development which funded the study quoted parts of the report with regret that although the necessary legislations have been passed to promote the well-being of the disabled not much has been done to involve a good number of them in decision making process in the country.

This was supported by sampled views of some disabled and able persons who said that although a minister has been appointed from the disabled fraternity a lot needs to be done to meet their needs as heir population keeps growing by the day. The people of Ghana including our traditional rulers must shed off the stigma we attach to the disabled to give room for recognition and honor to be accorded them.

Currently no member of the disabled has been made to serve on the council of state and many boards and other government outfits a situation that does not sit well with them. For various reasons a good number of them however qualified do not gain access to employment in government and private enterprises due to how they are perceived and how they perceive themselves. For various reasons most of them do not enjoy good education from the special secondary schools and tertiary schools dotted throughout the country.

Most private and government buildings such as the new court building complex in Accra , our parliament house building and other buildings springing up are not disability friendly a situation that makes it impossible for many disabled persons to go in there to transact business.

Ministry of Gender Children and Social Protection is said to have began various programs with funding from donors to ensure a more effective appreciation of and inclusion of disability issues in public discourse relying on the services of the newly inaugurated National Council of Persons of Disability.

This is good news indeed. Although progress has been chalked by some disability organizations as Ghana Blind Union, Ghana Federation of the Deaf and various organizations under the federation of the disabled to assist their members there is room for improvement. There is the need for government and its agencies to enforce the laws of the disabled to assist them move on in life.

There is also the need for government and private firms to invest in new technologies to make it easy to engage the services of the disabled in government and private offices and industries.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations Mr. Ban Kin Moon made this demand on behalf of the United Nations in this year’s celebration. When this is followed, it is possible for many disabled persons to be trained in technologies to be able to gain employment as secretaries, medical technologists, lift operators, lawyers, engineers, journalists, teachers and many others areas of employment.

By Alhaji Alhassan Abdulai

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

EANFOWORLD FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

0244 370345/ 0264370345/0208844791

abdulai.alhasan@gmail.com/eanfoworld@yahoo.com