Elmina, June 22, GNA – The Progressive Excellence Youth Organisation (PEYORG), a non-governmental organisation, has appealed to the public to appreciate the potentials of persons with disability instead of focusing on their deformities.
Mr James Otchere, the Programmes Officer of PEYORG, who made the call at an engagement with persons with disability (PWDs) and their caretakers, said it was aimed at empowering and motivating them.
The programme was organised by PEYORG, in collaboration with the Alliance for Reproductive Health Rights (ARHR), with funds from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA).
“We all in one way or the other live with a disability, be it physical, emotional, psychological, spiritual or educational but we turn to ridicule people who are physically challenged,” it said.
“The time has come for the Government and individuals to focus more on the talents and in-depth abilities of people with disability. Let’s support and push them to make it in life,” he said.
He appealed to the public to accept, treat and embrace persons with deformity and stop discriminating and stigmatising them.
Mr Otchere said all humans were created by God in diverse ways, therefore, must be treated equally and fairly.
He charged physically challenged persons not to settle for less but work to make great impact on the society.
Mr Otchere said the long practice where PWDs resorted to begging for their livelihoods must stop.
He called on the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to find ways to improve support for the disabled to enable them to become more empowered to deal with financial, psychological, and emotional difficulties.
Madam Cecilia Abbam, a mother of two disabled children, advised the public to support parents raising physically challenged children and stop the insults, name calling and tagging, which made them feel neglected by society.
She expressed gratitude to PEYORG for recognising persons with disability and helping to improve their well-being.