Promoting Effective Participation Of The Disabled

News commentary on promoting inclusion and effective participation of the disabled in Ghana

According to the World Health Organization, WHO, more than one billion people or approximately 15 percent of the world's population live with some form 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, about 80 percent live in developing nations. 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. The 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 lead to the exclusion of People with Disabilities in national development. The study found that, 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 others still associating disability with witchcraft, juju, 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 legislation has been passed to promote the well-being of the disabled not much has been done to involve a good number of them in the decision making process in the country. 

This was supported by sampled views of some disabled and able-bodied 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 their population keeps growing by the day. Currently no disabled person has been made to serve on the Council of State, boards or government agencies no matter how qualified they may be. For various reasons most disabled persons do not enjoy good education from some schools - both secondary and tertiary, country wide. Most private and government buildings springing up are not disability friendly. The Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection is said to have begun 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. Although this can be seen as progressive by some, there is still room for improvement. 

There is the need for government and its agencies to enforce the laws of the disabled to assist them to 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, Ban Ki Moon, made this demand on behalf of the United Nations during this year's celebration. When this is followed, it will be possible for many disabled persons to be trained in various technologies so that they can gain employment as secretaries, medical technologists, lift operators, lawyers, engineers, journalists, teachers, as well as many other areas of employment.

BY:  ALHAJI ALHASAN ABDULAI