Make Disability Act implementable – Advocates
Advocates for persons with disabilities have called for urgent measures to make Ghana’s Disability Act implementable.
The law passed nearly two decades has attracted scorn and widespread non-compliance by government officials, public institutions and facilities across the country.
Speaking at the annual John Agyekum Kufuor Disability Lecture on Tuesday, October 14, speakers emphasised that many public buildings, including schools and churches, law courts, hospitals, still lacked adequate infrastructure to enable easy access for persons with disabilities.
The lecture, organised by the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation in partnership with Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS) and Rights and Disability (RYD) International, held in Accra, was on the theme: “The Stark Reality of Disability Legislation in Ghana.”
The Disability Act (Act 715), passed on August 9, 2006 [19 years ago], prohibits maltreatment of persons with disabilities and mandates facilities to have appropriate infrastructure to ensure equal access to resources and employment.
However, Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr, speaking at the lecture, noted that the existence of the law had not led to proper execution, pointing out the absence of a structured system to ensure its effectiveness.
“Until we drop dead, we cannot stop fighting. Life is war, and we are on the battlefield. We must fight as such. We can do it if we set our mind to it.” Dr. Bomfeh Jnr said, urging all stakeholders, particularly, the government to ensure accessible public buildings.
He cited an unreported case where a judge acknowledged research incorporating the Persons with Disability Law in pleadings and ruled in favor of the plaintiff, forcing the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority to pay damages.
“Nobody will fight for you if you don’t fight for yourself. Nobody will seek your interest if you don’t assert your interest.” Dr. Bomfeh stated, encouraging persons with disabilities to take the lead in advocacy efforts.
He asked architects and engineers to design building s that would be accessed by persons with disabilities, in addition to increased representation of persons with disabilities in various public institutions.
The Disability Rights Advocate also called on the media to promote qualified persons with disabilities for policy and decision making roles.
Nana Kobina Nketia V, Paramount Chief of Essikado Traditional Area, who chaired the event, said: “Disabled people are our responsibility, just as I am their responsibility. Our society is a society of responsibility.
He called for a change in societal attitudes, where people recognise and embrace a collective responsibility towards ensuring the inclusion, dignity, and empowerment of persons with disabilities in a more compassionate and equitable community.
Ms Anna Lena Sabroso-Wasserfall, KAS Ghana Country Director, emphasised that inclusion and equal access were fundamental pillars of a society’s strength.
“It reflects a shared conviction that a society’s strength is measured not only by the prosperity of its economy or the soundness of its institutions, but by how it values and includes every human being,” she said.
Source: GNA
