The Ghana Disability Federation Organization is calling on the government of Ghana to expedite the process of amending the Disability Act 2006, Act 715 for a holistic inclusion of persons living with disabilities in national development and decision making.
The government of Ghana in its bid to promote and protect the rights of persons living with disabilities passed the disability law in 2006 and subsequently ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2012.
To achieve the requirements of the CRPD, govt says it is committed to amending the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act715) to be compliant with the CRPD to fully protect and promote the rights and inclusion of PWDs in Ghanaian society.
The leadership of the disability community in Ghana is therefore calling on govt to expedite the amendment process.
Speaking at this year’s World Disability Day event held at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital under the theme;
United in action to rescue and achieve the SDGs for, with, and by persons with disabilities former chairman of the Ghana Federation of disability organization, Abdul Razack Yusiv said they have been discriminated against, stigmatized, and neglected for far too long in society.
He revealed most of their member has witnessed rejection in schools, workplaces, and even in marriages.!
There are also calls on hospitals to emulate Ridge Hospital on how it has put in place a disability-friendly environment to aid the health care of the disabled community.
The medical director of the Ridge Hospital, Doctor Emmanuel Kobla Srofenyoh pledged the hospital’s commitment to partner with the disability community to foster quality health care for its members.
He calls on all disabled persons to walk into the facility to seek medical care.
Chairperson of the event, Dr Yvonne Brew, in charge of the pediatric neurodevelopment clinic at the hospital said 10% of people are living with disabilities globally, this must be included in development and decision-making to help achieve the sustainable development goals of the country, she said.
