Disability Law in Braille/ local languages

Takoradi, March 21, GNA-The Centre for Democratic Development Ghana, will translate the new Disability Law into the various Ghanaians languages and also abridged versions.

The aim of the translations is to aid understanding and increased public awareness on the rights of persons with disability in the country.

Mr. Peter Owusu-Donkor, deputy head of programmes of CDD-Ghana said this at a day's sensitisation seminar organized in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) at Takoradi on Wednesday. It was on the theme "Post enactment activities in relation to the Disability Act of 2006".

He said abridged versions of the law would be printed in Braille while translations into the Hausa, Ga, Twi and Dagbaani languages will also be done.

Mr. Owusu-Donkor said discussions are ongoing to document the law into video formats to assist persons with hearing problems. Mr. Owusu-Donkor said though the law had a 10 year moratorium for compliance, the government and its partners must ensure that the necessary structures were in place to facilitate its implementation. Dr. Kwadwo Appiagyei-Atua, a lecturer at the Ghana Law School said the accompanying Legislative Instrument (LI) of the law must be drafted to provide the regulations for its implementation. He suggested that a Disability Fund should be established and funds accrued should be invested.

Dr. Appiagyei-Atua, said churches, banks, individuals and organizations could contribute to the fund and later disbursed to People With Disabilities (PWD's), who have registered with the Public Employment and Rehabilitation Centres (PERC) which is yet to be established under the law.

He said the National Council for Persons With Disability (NCPWD) and its Board should be established as early as possible Dr. Appiagyei-Atua said the GFD must be strengthened and be politically organized to unable it to overcome social stigmas to enable them to mobilize and articulate their views as well as engage in political activism to improve their status.

Dr. Appiagyei-Atua noted that traditional customs and usages must not be used as a barrier to impede the growth of the physically challenged.

He called on the National House of Chiefs to do away with harmful traditional practices and rather promote the positive side of culture by treating the disabled as competent.

Dr. Appiagyei-Atua noted that properly organized markets, which would deal in disabled facilities, should be established to meet their needs.

He suggested to the leadership of the GFD to establish a hotline where the needs of its members could be met and general assistance sought for.

Dr. Appiagyei-Atua said the Judiciary, Police and Prisons Services, Attorney General's Department (AGs), the Ghana private Road Transport Union (GPRTU) and Insurance companies must undergo a thorough re-training to enable them understand the law.