Accra, April 7, GNA - The government on Tuesday fulfilled a campaign promise by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) when it inaugurated the Governing Board of the National Council of Persons with Disability (PWD) at the Castle, Osu. The physically challenged had for years lobbied for the establishment of the Council and the NDC pledged that it would do so within 100 days after assuming the reigns of power. On Tuesday, Vice President John Dramani Mahama inaugurated the 13-member Board which is under the chairmanship of Mr Andrew Okaikoi, a business executive. The inauguration is seen as crucial in promoting the welfare of PWDs who are believed to constitute more than five per cent of the population, but have over the years been denied many rights offered their able bodied counterparts.

A remit of the Council would be to work towards removing cultural and structural barriers that tend to stifle the integration of physically challenged persons into all aspects of society. The Vice President urged the Council to help dismiss norms and taboos that had been employed over the ages to stigmatize PWDs and work towards proscribing them. He said government would be assiduous in working for the inclusion of the disabled in all aspects of the society to ensure that they were not left behind or discriminated against on the basis of their infirmities. "They deserve as citizens to fully participate in the progress of the country without being discriminated against," Vice President Mahama stressed. Vice President Mahama charged the Council to ensure that all children with disabilities had access to formal education. The issue of PWDs having difficulty in using public buildings also engaged the attention of the Vice President. He directed the Council to ensure that institutions which were yet to provide easy passage for PWDs at their premises were made to comply with the relevant legislations. Similarly, he charged the Council to work with Metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies on the modalities to be adopted in disbursing two per cent of their share of the common fund to PWDs as demanded by the relevant laws.

Mr Okaikoi, commended the NDC for having the courage in inaugurating the board, and promised to work towards ensuring that the potentials of PWDs which had been left largely untapped were realized for the benefit for the country. He also paid tribute to all those who helped in the passage of the Disability Act for their persistence in promoting the welfare of PWDs. Other members of the Council included Dr Cynthia Bannerman, Dr Bashirideen Iddrisu Kori, Ms Emma Bruce-Lyle, Mr Ivor Greenstreet and Mr Henry Woode.

The rest were Mr Stephen Adongo, Mr Herbert Antor, Mr Victor Ayete Larbi, Mr Mawutor Ablo, Mrs Serwah Quaynor and Miss Augustina Ampomah. 7 April 09