Ghana joins the world to commemorate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) which falls on December 3 each year.
The 2021 theme for the International Day of Persons with Disabilities: “Leadership and participation of persons with disabilities toward an inclusive, accessible and sustainable post-COVID-19 world.”
The celebration was aimed at promoting greater commitment and partnerships that support the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana.
Observance of the day was proclaimed in 1992 by the United Nations General Assembly resolution after a proclamation of the UN General Assembly’s resolution 47/3 to promote the rights, inclusion, participation, and well-being of persons with disabilities in all sectors of the society
The day was instituted to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of society and development and to increase awareness of the situation of persons with disabilities in every aspect of political, social, economic, and cultural life. The UN puts the number of PWDs to about one billion worldwide.
The 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development seeks not to leave anyone behind but to ensure that the rights of persons with a disability go beyond justice; an investment in a common future.
In Ghana, successive governments have built their predecessor’s efforts in ensuring the lives of PWDs are made more bearable. Sadly, though, the quest has been at a rather snail’s pace. The visually, speech, and hearing impaired intellectually disabled like the autistic and those suffering from cerebral palsy have to contend with basic things such as easy access to public buildings.
Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006, ACT 715 encapsulates their rights to include: Right to family life and social activities, differential treatment in respect of residence, on-exploitation of and discrimination against a person with a disability, access to public places, services, and Public employment centers.
Source: Mybrytfmonline.com/Kofi Atakora
