TUC commends Government for passing Disability Law

Accra, June 30, GNA - The Ghana Trades Union Congress (TUC) on Friday congratulated the Government and Parliament for the passage of the Disability Law, which seeks to give meaning to the constitutional provision of dignity of the human person, equality and social justice.

A statement signed by Mr Kofi Asamoah, Deputy

Secretary-General of the TUC 96 Operations, said the

passage of the Law was an expression of political

commitment to the noble objectives captured in the provision

of the law. It said most people with disability occupied marginalized

positions in the society, were deprived of the rights to

education, training and employment enjoyed by non-disabled

citizens. It said disadvantages faced by people with disability

coupled with their social exclusion and discrimination

required action at all levels of society to dismantle the

barriers that had prevented their full participation. The statement said for the Law to have real meaning,

however, and for the rights conferred in it to bring real

change in the lives of disabled people the Government

should establish institutional mechanisms that have the

requisite institutional and resource capacity to implement the

policies that were implied in the Law. "There will be the need for education of our society and

people with disabilities in particular on the rights secured for

them under this Law." It also said the enforcement of some of the provisions

would require radical transformation of public and private

buildings and facilities, workplaces and factories to make

them convenient for use by people with disability. It said unless the Government showed practical

commitment to the enforcement and implementation of the

Law the rights would be nothing but formal political rights on

paper that did not translate into any real transformation of

rights and opportunities for people with disabilities in the

society.