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Lead discourse against negative perceptions affecting children with disabilities …Journalists told
The media have been urged to take the lead in changing negative perceptions about persons with disabilities and ensuring that children with disabilities are not excluded from Ghana’s education system.
The Country Representative of Chance for Childhood, a non-governmental organisation, Mr Richard Opoku, said journalists had the power either to deepen the stigma surrounding disability or use their platforms to challenge discriminatory attitudes and promote the rights, dignity and abilities of persons with disabilities.
Mr Opoku made the call at a media engagement on inclusive education in Accra last Tuesday, organised to strengthen journalists’ understanding of disability and encourage more responsible reporting on issues affecting children with disabilities.
He said inclusive education could not be achieved by schools and teachers alone, but required a collective effort by government, civil society organisations, development partners, corporate institutions and the media.
Mr Opoku explained that despite the introduction of the Inclusive Education Policy in 2015 by the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), inadequate funding continued to undermine efforts to ensure that children with disabilities received quality education alongside their peers.
He, therefore, appealed to the government to increase budgetary allocation for inclusive education from less than one per cent of the education budget to at least two per cent.
According to him, increased funding would provide the resources needed for continuous teacher training and the provision of appropriate teaching and learning materials to meet the diverse needs of children with disabilities and other special educational needs.
Mr Opoku also called for better motivation and continuous capacity building for teachers who worked with children with disabilities.
“Government, NGOs, civil society, corporate organisations and the media all have a role to play in supporting the teachers and advancing inclusive education,” he said.
The Vice President of the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) and Coordinator of the engagement, Madam Rebecca Ekpe, also called for the formation of a team of journalists dedicated to championing inclusive education and sustaining public discourse on disability issues.
She said the initiative was necessary to ensure that the rights, needs and challenges of children with disabilities remained on the national agenda.
Madam Ekpe stressed the need for continuous training for journalists, saying it was important for media practitioners to deepen their understanding of disability and develop the skills required to report on such issues accurately and responsibly.
She urged journalists to use their platforms not only to inform the public but also to challenge harmful social practices, educate communities and promote positive social change.
The engagement formed part of efforts to equip the media with the knowledge needed to promote inclusive education and contribute to building a society in which children with disabilities could participate fully in mainstream education.
By Linda Abrefi Wadie
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Management of the Ghana Education Service (GES) has interdicted two staff members of Aduman Senior High School over alleged sexual misconduct against a male student.
The teachers are Mr. Isaac Yankey and Mr. Palance Kwakye.
According to GES, Management received reports of the alleged sexual misconduct involving the two staff members against the male student.
Following receipt of the report, the matter was referred to the Police for investigation. The two staff members have since been arrested by the Police in connection with the alleged incident.
In addition, Management has interdicted the two teachers pending the outcome of the investigations.
The alleged victim has also been provided with psychosocial support to safeguard his well-being.
Management has assured the public that appropriate measures will continue to be taken to ensure that all students learn in a safe environment.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
The Ministry of Health has cautioned the public against a fraudulent fundraising campaign being aired on Ghanaian televisions, which falsely solicits money to support patients seeking surgical treatment through Mercy Ships.
Mercy Ships International, an international Christian organisation providing free surgical care and education across Africa, currently has its hospital vessel, The Global Mercy, docked at the Tema Port.
The vessel is expected to provide free surgeries to more than 2,500 Ghanaians over a 10-month period ending in June 2027.
The Ministry has clarified that patients scheduled for treatment were identified and pre-screened ahead of the vessel’s arrival through a coordinated process involving Mercy Ships and the Ministry, based on established medical and eligibility criteria.
According to them, Mercy Ships is currently operating at full capacity and is not accepting additional patients for the ongoing field service.
The Ministry emphasised that payments or registrations through third parties will not guarantee access to treatment.
The fraudulent broadcast, featuring an organisation identified as ‘HELP Save LIFE Foundation,’ solicits financial contributions through an MTN Mobile Money account.
“The Ministry wishes to state categorically that the campaign is not affiliated with, authorised by or endorsed by Mercy Ships,” the statement noted.
They reminded the public that all medical services provided by Mercy Ships are entirely free, and no patient is required to make payments, donations or mobile money transfers to access treatment.
Members of the public have therefore been advised not to make payments, share personal or financial information with individuals claiming to facilitate access to the services, or engage with similar suspicious solicitations.
The ministry encouraged the public to rely solely on official Ministry of Health and Mercy Ships communication channels for accurate information on medical services and patient access.
By Edem Mensah-Tsotorme
