Editorial
Educate children to respect people with disabilities
In Ghana, people with disabilities (PWDs) still face a variety of discriminatory practices and social exclusion, despite the fact that they should have equal access to opportunities and services as people without disabilities.
Disability discrimination occurs when someone with a disability faces less favourable treatment in the same or comparable conditions than someone without the disability.
PWDs for example, must work, attend school, and have access to healthcare. Access to certain services like rehabilitation and assistive technology like wheelchairs and braille materials is also necessary for them.
Sadly, PWDs frequently face discrimination, prejudice, and stigma, even in the face of several anti-discrimination legislation designed to uphold their rights and encourage their involvement in mainstream society.
For example, the Persons with Disability Act, 715, was passed in 2006 with the intention of establishing the legal framework necessary to advance and safeguard the rights of PWDs, particularly women and girls with disabilities.
However, according to the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) 2012 report PWDs, who make up an estimated three percent of Ghana’s 25 million inhabitants, are among the most marginalised groups in the country.
These views may originate from people’s conceptions of disability in society, which may include views of disability as a personal tragedy, a disease that must be healed or avoided, a penalty for misbehaviour, or a sign that a person is incapable of acting in a way that is expected of them.
It is imperative that the general public, particularly young people, be made more aware of the needs and struggles of people with disabilities, and that an open discourse and sense of empathy be fostered.
In light of this, the Spectator praises the opinions of Ms. Martha Awuley Lartey, a PWD advocate and the district coordinator of the Church of Pentecost’s Ministry to Persons with Disability (MPWD) at the New Moneomanye District in Ashaiman.
According to her, young children should be made aware of the need to fight discrimination against PWDs so that they might grow up believing that God loves PWDs and spreading this message to their peers to help improve the lives of all PWDs.
Ms Lartey believed that more active advocacy was needed in churches and schools, particularly through children’s programmes, to encourage more people to be responsible around PWDs.
She said that people may become incapacitated due to medical malpractice, domestic mishaps, car crashes, or other circumstances that are beyond their control and that children should be made aware of these.
In The Spectator’s opinion children who were well-informed, would hardly ever treat their classmates with disabilities disrespectfully. Rather, they will treat everyone the way they want to be treated.
We implore the government, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), philanthropists, schools, and religious organisations, among others, to prioritise meeting the needs of PWDs so they can lead fulfilling lives.
Dear Editor,
Over the past few months, the ages of some drivers of commercial vehicles continue to baffle me.
This is common during weekends when one boards any of the commercial vehicles – be it trotros and okada.
I remember, I boarded a taxi from the Accra Central area towards the Kwame Nkrumah Circle area. When I sat in the vehicle, I realised the driver was a young boy. Specifically, he said he was 18.
I know our laws do not permit youth under the age of 21 to be driving; that is clearly against Ghana’s Road Traffic laws for operating commercial vehicles.
Some commuters have even had confrontations with station masters over the issue and have refused to board vehicles driven by underage individuals, despite the risk of arriving late for work.
This situation is deeply disturbing because it puts the lives of passengers and other road users at risk.
No matter how skilled such drivers may be, allowing underage persons to operate commercial vehicles is wrong and unlawful. Laws governing road safety are meant to protect lives, and ignoring them only increases the chances of accidents and loss of lives.
I therefore urge the relevant authorities, especially the National Road Safety Authority (NRSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority, to strictly enforce the age requirements for commercial driving in the country.
Baba
Labadi
The advantages of focusing on girls have been evident over the years. However, current research indicates that the statistics pertaining to boys are still declining.
Approximately 69 percent of boys and 73 percent of girls finish primary school. While Senior High School (SHS) enrollment trends have lately changed, with females significantly outnumbering males (about 110 girls to every 100 boys), Junior High School (JHS) gender parity remains stable, with the Gender Parity Index (GPI) remaining between 1.00 and 1.03.
The Gender Parity Index (GPI) indicates parity between girls and boys.
Although encouraging education for girls is essential for Ghana’s development, the strong emphasis has unintentionally led to inequalities for boys.
Many stakeholders worry that affirmative action and unequal resource distribution put males at risk, which can occasionally lead to increased dropout rates and behavioural issues in specific neighbourhoods.
There has been a lot of discussion among Ghanaian sociologists and educators about the disproportionate support given to girls and how it affects boys.
They claim that the majority of scholarships and special facilities are frequently disproportionately given to girls, which boy child advocates contend makes young men feel ignored or disadvantaged.
Due to these differences, Apostle Professor Kwabena Agyapong-Kodua, Vice Chancellor of Pentecost University, has voiced serious concerns and is pushing for a deliberate discussion about the education and development of boys in order to build stronger families and societies.
The statement was made by Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua during a seminar hosted by the Church of Pentecost Schools Outreach Ministry in Accra on May 16, which is International Day of the Boy Child.
It was organised in association with the Pentecost Men’s Ministry and the Ghana Education Service (GES) under the theme “Flourish and Thrive: Investing and Unleashing Boys for Strong Families and Communities.”
Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua revealed that many young males are vulnerable due to inadequate mentoring, a decline in schooling, negative social media influences, and emotional neglect.
Additionally, he stated that the boy child faced numerous difficulties, including aggression, substance addiction, academic decline, emotional neglect, and the lack of strong role models, as a result of the focus shifting to the girl child.
He worries that since boys are essential to the development of the country, they should not be overlooked in discussions about leadership, education, family stability, and national reform.
The Spectator agrees with Apostle Prof. Agyapong-Kodua and believes that while it is important to train girls, neglecting boys can impede social advancement by causing differences in behaviour and education between young men and women.
“If we don’t make an effort social media will train our children for us. We’re not saying they shouldn’t use social media, but we should help them get the information they need to succeed in life,” he said.
The Spectator believes that the GES would adopt gender-responsive education in order to guarantee that classroom instruction meets the requirements of both boys and girls equally.
Let’s continue to be dedicated to making sure that no child is left behind.
