DISABILITY ACT MUST BITE

GHANA has a very elaborate legislative framework to provide adequate means of livelihood and equal access to public facilities for all citizens.
Our Constitution also frowns on any acts of discrimination that tend to give advantage to individuals or any group of people based on creed and other sectarian considerations.
Article 36 (1) of the Fourth Republican Constitution says that “the State shall take all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximise the rate of economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana and to provide adequate means of livelihood and suitable employment and public assistance to the needy”.
Not long ago, physically challenged persons took to the streets to draw attention to the apparent lack of public sympathy for their plight. Their concerns were not only limited to the public’s low esteem of their status in society but also the lack of recognition of their capabilities to contribute meaningfully to national development efforts.
Although some of the actions of some physically challenged persons have led to a situation where a section of the public threat them with scorn, there are many others who are contributing meaningfully to the development of the country.
This group of physically challenged persons has always asked those who are quick to generalise that disabled persons are a burden on society not to look at disability as a demeaning phenomenon but the ability of such people to perform just as able-bodied persons.
Even after the passage of the Disability Act by Parliament in 2006, it has taken some time for the authorities to operationalise the legislation, particularly those provisons of the act that deal with providing easy access to public buildings for physcially challenged persons.
It is good news, however, that some organisations have started putting up facilities to make their buildings accessible to people with disability, in compliance with the People with Disability Act, Act 715.
A report in the GHANAIAN TIMES of July 29, 2008 named some of the buildings which are being provided with facilities for people with disability as the National Theatre, the new Presidential Palace, Parliament House, the Ghana Cocoa Board Headquarters, most hotels in Accra and the Ministry of Manpower, Youth and Employment.
The Assistant Director of Social Welfare, Mr William Niyuri, said the ministry decided to construct a smooth ramp to make the building accessible to people with disability “because, as the parent ministry, we must be a shining example for others to emulate”.
The situation of the physically challenged reflects our attitude towards our Constitution that requires that we frown on discrimination in order to achieve national integration and development.
Many laws on our statutes have not been enforced, providing a loose environment for people to engage in lawless acts and push the entire society to the brink of a state of nature.
The DAILY GRAPHIC commends the organisations that have committed resources into providing for the needs of our less-fortunate brothers and sisters in society.
However, those who have turned blind eyes to the law on disability should also be compelled to comply without delay to make all public facilities friendly to the needs of the physically challenged.