HFFG calls on government to take good care of disabled persons

Hope for Future Generations (HFFG), a Ghanaian based NGO has called on government of Ghana to take good care of persons with disabilities (PWDs).

Since 1992, the United Nations International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) has been celebrated globally on 3rd December every year to promote understand of disability issues and mobilise support for the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities.

In a press statement issued on December 3, 2017 to commemorate the day, the Executive Director of Hope for Future Generations, indicated that the Disability Act in Ghana which commits government and stakeholders to a nationwide approach aimed at improving the lives of persons with disability, the progress in implementation has been very low.

This year’s theme for International Day of Persons with Disability is, “Transformation towards sustainable and resilient society for all”.

According Mrs. Senoo, “The theme draws the world’s attention to the need to leave no one behind as we work towards creating sustainable development in all sectors”.

“PWDs should, thus, not be left out of the educational, heath, political and economic spheres of society, as they are active contributors to development”, she added.

Below is the full statement

Persons with disabilities cut across all age brackets – children, adolescents, youth, the middle-aged and the aged; and all these groups have their own unique needs and challenges.

A former UN Secretary-General, Javier Perez de Cuellar, had said “Equality of opportunity simply does not exist, where a disabled child cannot go to school, where a disabled mother has no health care, where a disabled man cannot get training or a job, or where disabled people cannot move freely on the streets.”

Though we have a Disability Act in Ghana which commits government and stakeholders to a nationwide approach aimed at improving the lives of persons with disability, the progress in implementation has been slow. Basically, not all public (and private) places are disability-friendly.

We call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, and all other Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government to be more accommodating and sensitive to the needs of differently able persons by integrating their needs into all sector policies and, ensure implementation of same.

Hope for Future Generations is currently implementing the Get Up, Speak Out (GUSO) project as a member of the Ghana Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR) Alliance for Young People.

Under GUSO, with support from Simavi in the Netherlands, we seek to empower young people, including persons with disabilities, to voice out and stand up for their rights, while demanding for improved sexual and reproductive health services.

We also take this time to call on you to support our HopePal project, aimed at contributing to improved lives of young persons with disabilities in and out of school.

On this day, let us increase our own knowledge on disability issues and be responsive in our language and actions to persons with disabilities. Let us be truly inclusive by ending stigma and discrimination against persons with disabilities. The action begins with one person.

…Signed…
Mrs. Cecilia Senoo
(Executive Director)

Source: Daniel Kaku