Editorial
Promote social inclusion for People with Disabilities
It is regrettable that in this modern age and advancement, some segments of society still adhere to unhealthy cultural and traditional practices that have a detrimental impact on People Wth Disabilities (PWDs).
It is time society adopted a more accepting stance toward PWDs.
PWDs, including the blind, the deaf, and albinos, face discrimination on a daily basis in the workplace, like the health and education sectors, and other settings due to unfavourable cultural norms that really cause them pain and make life intolerable for them.
Mothers of children with disabilities experience anxiety and discomfort since many people think that PWDs should not be living. Even so, is it someone’s fault if they are disabled?
While individuals without disabilities are entitled to the fundamental freedoms and human rights as citizens as outlined in the 1992 Constitution, it appears that those with disabilities face discrimination on all fronts.
People who are albinos face even more challenging situation because some people in the community feel that they are taboo, and should not be allowed to live.
“I suffer the same, therefore I know it’s true. People do not want us to be close to them for any reason, and we are treated as second-class citizens,” Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, national president of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFDOs), told our correspondent.
“In some communities, it is believed that when you are going out in the morning for any activity and you meet a person or somebody with a visual impairment, it means a misfortune is about to befall you; for which reason you must return home,” he stated.
How is it possible for someone in this modern world to have such a bad opinion of PWDs? Some people still believe that being disabled is a curse or a punishment for whatever they have done wrong and that hanging around with them will bring the same fate or punishment.
In actuality, it is critical for society to know that although some people are born deformed, others acquire disabilities as a result of environmental mishaps or certain medical disorders, such as glaucoma, measles, or cataracts that cause blindness, deafness, or both.
The national president claims that despite their infirmities, PWDs can still make significant contributions to the development of this nation if given the chance, and that efforts to educate people to stop these regrettable activities have been ineffective.
The Spectator expresses concerns about these developments which have the potential to harm those with PWDs and impede their aspirations.
Therefore, we make a plea to the media, religious organisations, and other institutions to draw attention to the predicament of PWDs in order to shift public opinion and win over hearts.
PWDs require our respect and decency; we must put ourselves in their position.
Fostering positive attitudes towards PWDs is crucial in order to advance social inclusion.
Editorial
Parents urged to take responsibility for sex education
Dr. Francis Wuobar, a Gynaecologist at the Eastern Regional Hospital in Koforidua has urged parents to take the lead in providing sex education to their children, stressing that they were in the best position to guide them through the changes of adolescence.
According to him, sex education remained a taboo subject in most Ghanaian homes, a culture that must change to prevent children from seeking misleading information elsewhere.
“With the evolving nature of society and technological advancements, today’s children will either learn about sex on the internet or from their peers, who may offer wrong advice,” he cautioned.
Dr. Wuobar noted that the health system and society often concentrate on the reproductive stage of life, neglecting the adolescent and menopausal phases.
“When a woman reaches the reproductive period and gets pregnant, everyone rallies around her. But before that stage, during adolescence, there is little attention and guidance, which has contributed to the rising cases of teenage pregnancy,” he explained.
He observed that many adolescents lack access to counseling and adolescent clinics, creating a vacuum that forces them to explore on their own.
“The answers they seek, adults and parents are not willing to provide. Their peers, who are equally uninformed, become their only source of advice. This exploration is one of the major contributors to teenage pregnancy,” he said.
Dr. Wuobar therefore called on parents to create open and confidential spaces for discussion, where children can freely ask questions about sex, puberty, and relationships.
He emphasized that parents must help adolescents understand the consequences of unprotected sex, the changes they go through, and what choices were right or wrong.
“Today’s generation is curious and asks questions, unlike in the past when children were silent. Parents should not rebuke them but rather engage them seriously and guide them through this turbulent stage,” he advised.
He further appealed to the health sector to establish more adolescent clinics across the country to give young people safe spaces to seek information and counseling.
That, he said, would help reduce the high incidence of teenage pregnancy and support adolescents in making informed decisions about their sexual health.
From Ama Tekyiwaa Ampadu Agyeman, Koforidua
Editorial
Addressing unhealthy conditions at Akropong Mandela Market
Dear Editor,
The Akropong Mandela Market, a vibrant centre of commerce, has been in a terrible state for over a decade now.
Central to the problem is a public toilet located near the market, which has become a breeding ground for diseases and a source of discomfort for both food vendors and customers.
This toilet, utilised by everyone in the town, is positioned too close to the market, severely affecting the vendors who spend long hours selling their goods.
They are constantly exposed to unsanitary conditions mixed with foul odours emanating from the facility.
Agnes, a vendor at the market is sad about the apparent lack of concern from those responsible for maintaining the toilet. Despite collecting user fees, there seems to be little effort to keep the facility clean and hygienic.
The situation at the Akropong Mandela Market highlights the urgent need for effective waste management and sanitation infrastructure in public spaces.
Authorities must take immediate action to ensure the facility is regularly maintained and cleaned. Vendors and customers deserve a safe and healthy environment to conduct their daily activities.
In the meantime, the vendors are urging local government officials to intervene and find a lasting solution to this problem.
Only through collective action can the health and well-being of both vendors and customers be safeguarded to restore the Akropong Mandela Market to its former glory as a thriving commercial hub.
Addo Sarah Ansah Student,
UNIMAC–IJ(BACS26275)
Join our WhatsApp Channel now!
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBElzjInlqHhl1aTU27
