The Daily Observer (Banjul)
Momodou Jawo
29 April 2011
The Gambia Association of the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (GADHOH) recently held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) at GADHOH headquarters in Kanifing.
Speaking at the meeting, Abdou Kardirr Drammeh, the president of GADHOH, told the gathering that the association is doing its best for the government of The Gambia to sign and ratify the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRDP). He said some strides have been made in other areas in the convention, and went on to cite some parts of the Gambian constitution that gives rights to persons with disabilities in the country.
Drammeh called on government departments, ministries and tertiary institutions to work with them to establish and finance training programmes for sign language interpreters and teachers of the deaf. “We at GADHOH are doing advocacy and lobbying for the government for the recognition of a Gambian national sign language as an official language in Gambian soil,” he disclosed.
He stated that everybody is equal before the law and Allah the Almighty has created all equal, and so disabled persons should be treated equally in the society like any other person. Drammeh explained that the association’s vision is empowerment, equity and barrier-free society for all deaf and hard of hearing persons, while their mission is to “to promote equal opportunities, rights and full participation of deaf and hard of hearing persons in The Gambia”.
Presenting his report, Abdoulie Sallah, the secretary general of GADHOH said that their 2010 activity began with electing a new board. He disclosed that the association has also participated in both local and international sporting events as well as participating in local and international conferences.
Adama Jammeh, the vice president of GADHOH and Ebou Bobb presented the association’s annual work plan and financial report respectively.
Other speakers included representatives from various regions namely; Jainaba Marong and Sang Bass, both from Farafenni; Matarr Choi from Barra; Abdoulie Njie from Banjul; Karamo O.Sanyang from Brikama; and Madam Euphrasia Mbewe, FAD project adviser from Zambia.
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