Persnons with disability to receive better attention

Ms Florence Rachel AppohMs Florence Rachel AppohThe Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MGSCP) is in the process of mainstreaming disability issues into the development planning process of the country. To this effect, it is reviewing the Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) to ensure maximum attention to issues related to Persons with Disability (PWDs).

A Deputy Minister at the MGSCP, Ms Florence Rachel Appoh, made this known when she addressed a forum to commemorate this year’s National Day of the Persons with Disability.

According to Ms Appoh, there were high social and economic implications for neglecting PWDs as about 3.5 per cent of the country’s population were disabled.
Such persons, she said, were denied the opportunity to develop their full potential.

“Ultimately, this affects the socio-economic development of the country, especially with respect to education and the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals,” she said.

The day, which fell on Monday, June 24, was celebrated on the theme, Eensuring compliance with the Persons With Disability Act 2006, (Act 715): The role of the government’.

The Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) was passed by Parliament in June 2006 and has 12 main objectives.

According to Ms Appoh, despite numerous interventions put in place in the act, Persons with Disability continue to be discriminated against in many ways including the lack of accessibility.

Also she said some children of school age, who are disabled, were deprived of formal education as some parents and guardians hid them from public view because of stigmatisation.

She said the ministry was mandated to ensure gender equality, facilitate the enforcement of children’s rights and promote the integration and protection of the vulnerable, excluded as persons with disability.

Therefore, the ministry intended to strengthen its collaboration with other sectors, especially the ministries of Local Government and Rural Development, Health and Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs, to address the concerns of PWDs.  

The Minister commended organisations and institutions that had been supportive of persons with Disability and appealed to stakeholders, including corporate organisations, to support the ministry in its programmes and projects aimed at ensuring the protection of the rights of PWDs.

Daily Graphic


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