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Regional News of Friday, 13 July 2012

Source: GNA

Blind union commends government for the common fund raise

Mr. Ebenezer Nsoah, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of Ghana Blind Union, has commended government for ratifying the United Nation (UN) Convention for the rights of persons with disabilities.

He thanked the government for increasing the two percent share of the Common Fund for such persons to three percent.

Addressing members of the Union at Nsawkaw in Tain District, Mr. Nsoah appealed to government to expedite action on the passing of the Legislative Instrument (LI) to enforce and strengthen the Disability Law (ACT 715 of 2006).

Since there is no LI, the law is toothless and has become a pretentious Act of Parliament to silence the people with disabilities, he said.

Mr. Nsoah said many blind persons had limited access to health care, education, employment opportunities, sports and recreation and suffered social exclusion.

He called on Ghanaians to eschew negative tendencies against the blind and appealed to politicians to conduct themselves in a manner that would ensure that peace reigns in the country saying, what would happen during a political upheaval would be unbearable for many people.

The regional chairman called on politicians to conduct peaceful campaigns to ensure successful elections in December this year.

Mr. Nsoah said “those who spark trouble should first of all think about the situation of the person with disability in their homes if there should be mayhem in the country”.

He appealed to politicians to avoid intemperate language on radio programmes.**