International Day Of Persons With Disability

 The annual observance of International Day of Persons with Disability (PWDs)started in 1992 after a proclamation of the UN General Assembly’s resolution 47/3. The day was instituted to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disability in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness on the situation of persons with disability in every aspect of political, social, economic and cultural life. The UN puts the number of PWDs to about one billion worldwide This year’s global pandemic has undoubtedly reset the world’s compass on Virtually everything and re-engineered attention on ensuring vulnerable Groups are put at the center of all decision making processes. No wonder The UN is using today’s celebration to building a better: disability-inclusive,

accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 World. Disability inclusion is not about ticking the boxes but inclusion is at the heart of human rights, sustainable development, peace and security. The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development seeks not to leave anyone behind but ensuring that the rights of persons with disability goes beyond justice; an investment in a common future.

In Ghana, successive governments have built their predecessor’s efforts in ensuring the lives of PWDs are made more bearable. Sadly, though, the quest has been at a rather snail’s pace. The visually, speech and hearing impaired intellectually disabled like the autistic and those suffering from cerebral palsy have to contend with basic things such as easy access to public buildings. Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006, ACT 715 encapsulates their rights to include: Right to family life and social activities, differential treatment in respect of residence,non-exploitation of and discrimination against a person with disability, access to public places, services and Public employment centers.

These are but a few of the more than 60 rights and provisions captured in ACT 715. The question however remains that how many of such provisions has the state and society ensured their implementation to the letter. Come Monday, Ghanaians of adult suffrage will go to the polls to elect a president and parliamentarians. According to a 2017 Postgraduate research carried out by a student of the University of Ghana, the “Disability Act has no significant influence on the political inclusion of PWDs. There exist a gap between policy and implementation because the Act sets no guidelines for political engagement.” It particularly notes the work of CSOs and specific state institutions in improving electoral participation of PWDs from 2008.

The study also found that “the growing influence of partisan activities in local government elections informs the withdrawal of PWDs from the electoral participation at the grassroots level. Financial support for a party’s preferred candidates makes local electoral participation competitive and burdensome for PWDs due to their low financial status.” On the eve of the voter registration exercise this year, the Electoral Commission engaged the Federation of Disability organizations to ensure no one was excluded from the civic exercise. With the special voting forming the water test for the national exercise next week, the believe is that the EC, NCCE, Ministry for Gender and Social Protection and all allied agencies will leave no stone unturned in getting all registered PWDs to cast their ballot next week. In the spirit of compassion and the proverbial hospitality of the Ghanaian, it would be most welcoming if PWDs are given prompt attention when they get to their polling station. This is even more necessary as COVID 19 still stares us in the face. The time to build a better society that is disability-inclusive, accessible and sustainable, post-COVID 19, starts now.

BY AUGUSTUS ACQUAYE, A JOURNALIST

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Need For Ghanaians To Support The 2021 Budget

  The 2021 budget focused on the need to complete all previously initiated projects, consolidate the economy and continue with new programmes for the benefit of the people. The previous practice where some of the uncompleted projects were delayed for various reasons is unacceptable and must be abandoned for the progress of the country. This is good and ought to be realized because abandoned or neglected projects constitute a drain on the resources of the country. Development programmes must be well thought through before their implementation. Their implementation must also be well planned so that they will not constitute a waste of resources in the country. If this is done at all times, the entire country will benefit from a sound and maximum use of its limited resources for Ghanaians. This must therefore guide all governments, present and future for the rapid socio-economic development of the country. It is clear that government needs more revenue to be able to finance its development
Read more

Showing compassion to the less privileged

  Poverty, it is said, is a serious disease which when it afflicts you, will not kill you easily but rather disorganises your plans and ways of living and renders you impotent. Nobody is born poor on this earth but rather, certain unforeseen circumstances give way to poverty. A touchy and heart-rendering story of an 18-year old orphan who is desirous of becoming a doctor in the future but currently facing financial challenges to support his education to realise his ambition is for some time now trending on social media. Edward Elorm Gbanaglo is said to have completed his secondary education at the Presbyterian Boys’ Senior High School (PRESEC) in Accra with seven A’s and two B’s and has gained admission into the University of Health and Allied Sciences at Ho in the Volta Region. He managed to pay his admission fees with the help of his late mother’s friends. However, Elorm, who defied all odds to make excellent grades, fears he might not be able to complete the program because he does
Read more

One Year Of Coronavirus In Ghana

  Exactly a year ago, Ghana announced the first two recorded Coronavirus cases in the country. This was after few months that the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared the disease a public health emergency of international concern. It became the highest level of alarm under international law. The WHO published an interactive timeline showcasing how the organization has taken action on information, science, leadership, advice, response and resourcing. A year on, Ghana’s Covid-19 death toll has reached 656, with active case standing at 4,782 with 272 new cases recorded, leading to 86,737 total confirmed cases. Experts are of the opinion that the figures might have been terrible but for the pragmatic and prudent measures put in by the Government, which was hailed across the globe. Ghana is said to have been one of the world’s best countries to have managed the spread of COVID-19 very well. Indeed, the country’s leadership with respect to the control of the pandemic has been superb.
Read more