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.
Dear Editor,
I wish to use this esteemed platform to urge the traditional councils of Osu and La to call for independent investigation into the recent demolition exercise at Kaajaano.
The exercise rendered hundreds homeless.
Information about the reason for the demolition has been scanty with those desiring to know feeding heavily on social media posts.
One particular name –Jato, has been associated with it but under whose instruction the exercise was carried is also not known.
Sadly, instead of getting to know who ordered the demolition and for what reasons, traditional authorities of Osu and La have been embroiled in a tug-of-war over ownership of the said land.
This is premature. At this moment, they should call for investigation into the exercise to know the people behind it.
When that is done, then discussions about the owners of the site can begin. That would end the posture of the two neighbouring town which has the potential to turn into something else.
Ataa Osa Mensah,
Osu
Dear Editor,
I wish to use your respected platform to draw the attention of the Bank of Ghana (BoG) to the behaviour of traders and some drivers about the use of lower denomination coins, specifically the 20 and 10 pesewas.
About two weeks ago, I read in your sister newspaper, The Ghanaian Times about this problem and the caution that followed from the BoG and some economic analysts.
The warning they gave was that the continuous rejection of the notes could create pricing problems which can eventually affect inflation.
I thought that would put to bed that practice or refusal to accept the coins when given out as change or use to pay for particular service.
Unfortunately, the problem still persist among traders, drivers, customers and passengers alike. Only last week, there was as altercation in the Accra Central area where a woman refused to accept five 20 pesewas note totaling one cedi.
As the argument continued, the trader decided not to sell to the customer again after by-standers explained to her that it was still a legal tender and those that refused it could become offenders.
This is an issue the BoG and other regulatory agencies must go and explain to the people and let them know that it is unlawful not to accept a currency that is still in use.
It nothing was done, it could create a much more serious problems.
Mary Osei Badu,
Swedru
