Disabled persons call for passage of Disability Bill

Accra, Jan.27, GNA- Cabinet has suggested administrative measures to address concerns of the disabled in society until the passage of a Bill on Disability was passed, Mr. Yaw Barima, Minister of Manpower, Development and Employment has said.

He said administratively, all new public buildings being constructed are to ensure access facilities for the disabled while the new Labour law had made provisions for special allowances for disabled employees.

Mr. Barima said this when he received a resolution from the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) on the proposed draft disability policy.

The Disabled complained that the policy was initiated 12 years ago but due to its complexities and other financial implications, it had not been implemented.

Carrying placards some of which read " We are also citizens of Ghana respect our rights", Pass disability bill now", the about 50 disabled demonstrated from the Ghana Rehabilitation Centre through the National Theatre to the Ministry where the presented their petition to the sector Minister.

Mr. Charles Appiagyei, President of GFD urged Parliament to enact the bill on the rights of persons with disabilities within six months. He urged government to as matter of urgency to set up a national council on disability and implement the national disability policy. The federation he said bemoaned the fact that over the past 12 years no single law on disability has been passed in the life of three parliaments.

Mr. Barima noted that though cabinet sympathised with the disabled, since the problems are cumulative due to about four decades of non-action, it would take some time to overcome and urged them to exercise restraint.

He said government would not relent to ensure that minorities are not discriminated against as result of their disabilities. He however advised that they should not use their disability as a lever of persuasion to the detriment of others.

Mr. Barima said it would be unfortunate and unfair to twist facts to the advantage of others to the detriment of the larger society. The Minister expressed surprise that even though there was a scheduled meeting between his Deputy with the GFD on Thursday, they chose to go on demonstration two days before the meeting. The demonstrators later left the ministry to parliament to present a petition to the leadership of the House.

Bagbin assures disabled

Accra, Jan 27, GNA- Mr. Alban Bagbin, Minority Leader, Tuesday assured members of the Ghana Federation for the Disabled (GFD), that the consideration of the Bill on Disability was part of the program of activities government submitted to Parliament this year.

He said, "we are waiting for government to submit the bill itself and we in parliament will fast track its passage into law to ensure that the ensuing policy is formulated to enable the disabled in society contribute their quota effectively to national development."

Mr. Bagbin gave the assurance when Mr. Isaac Appiagyei, the wheel-chaired President of the GFD, led over 200 disabled persons in red bands on a peaceful demonstration to parliament house and presented a resolution demanding the expeditious passage of the Bill into Law on Disability to the majority and minority leaders of parliament.

The Minority Leader commended members of the GFD for the orderly manner in which they comported themselves during the demonstration and called on other pressure groups to emulate them.

He said it was a "sad commentary on leaders" to have waited for such an action by the challenged in society after so many years of ratifying several international protocols committing the country to the course of the disabled.

"It is our duty as leaders and the duty of all to ensure that the challenged in society are given the opportunity to contribute their quota to national development," he said. "I hope the government places the bill before parliament soon so that we could work on it fast to make life comfortable for you."

Mr. Felix Owusu-Agyapong said much as it was wrong on the part if national leadership to have allowed so much time without addressing the need of the disabled, it must also be understood that some other important bills also took a long time before coming to parliament. He said "your case is one that we attach much importance to and we will ensure that when the bill comes before parliament, we will expedite the process to pass it quick."

Members of the federation held placards, some of which read "We also have rights" - "Government must be proactive towards the disabled" - " we need more jobs" - "Give us more sign language interpreters," and others.

Mr. Appiagyei recommended the formation of a National Disabled Council to coordinate the activities of disabled bodies at the national level.