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In Ghana, persons with physical disability are estimated to be approximately
10% of the national population. People with disability in Ghana, and
in most parts of Africa face multiple discrimination, from the home,
the community and society at large and in terms of allocation or resources
and opportunities. They are faced with low quality and segregated
education, chronic unemployment; poor access to public facilities
and widespread disdain or paternalism. Infanticide of the disabled
is widespread. People with a physical disability therefore face a
monumental task in asserting and enjoying their fundamental human
rights. |
The
1992 Fourth republican Constitution of Ghana provides a framework for
the protection of the rights of people with disability. Chapter 5 of the
Constitution enshrines the fundamental rights and freedoms of the individual.
Under Article 12(1) all organs and agencies of government as well as all
natural and legal persons in Ghana are under obligation to respect those
rights. Article 12(2) guarantees these fundamental rights for every person,
the only caveat being the respect of the rights of others and for the
public interest. Article 17(2) provides that "a person shall not
be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, race, religion, ethnic
origin, creed or social and economic status".
To cater for the special challenges of disability, Article 29(4) provides
that "Disabled persons shall be protected against all exploitation,
all regulations and all treatment of discrimination, abusive or degrading
nature.
The reality however could not be much further than this constitutional
provision, as people with disability continue to face discrimination in
virtually all facets of social and professional life: employment, housing,
transport, education and health facilities. They represent the greatest
proportion of the destitute and beggars on the streets. Educational reforms
change school syllabus without bordering to produce material in Braille
for the blind. The construction of public buildings largely does not accommodate
the needs of wheel-chair users. Pedestrian crossings mostly ignore the
rights of disabled people. People with disabilities are largely excluded
from public life and have no representation in political parties, national
assemblies, local legislatures, committees etc. Except for Uganda, and
to some extent South Africa, few countries have, and actively implement,
positive affirmation policies in favour of people with disability.
ISODEC works closely with the Ghana Federation of Organisations of People
with Disability. The Federation is on the steering committee of both SAPPRI
and the Ghana National Education Campaign Coalition (GNECC). ISODEC seeks
to strengthen the Federation and to work with them and their member organisations
in order to:
- Make the promotion and protection of the rights of people with disability
a national priority.
- Embark
upon a disability rights campaign programme, which will include legal
and constitutional reforms in collaboration with CEPIL, a campaign for
affirmative policies and public awareness activities.
- Develop
a capacity by organisations of people with disability to actively lobby
parliament and other bodies for change.
- Support
the Federation to undertake specific research that will reinforce their
campaigns
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