Government urged to pass Disability Bill

Ho, March 15, GNA - The delay in passing the Disability Bill reflects the extent to which the country cares about its disabled members, Mr Ebenezer Addo Asamoah, Administrator of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf, has said.

Mr Asamoah told newsmen at Ho that the passage of the Disability Bill into law had been pending since the previous government and the disabled had hoped that their nightmare would end with the coming into office of the present government.

He said the frustration arising from the delay led to a recent demonstration by the disabled ''but it appears the situation may not change soon.''

"When government decides to close its ears to your protestations there is very little you can do", Mr Asamoah said.

He said indications were that the government was avoiding a situation when the passage of the bill into law would strengthen the position of the disabled to demand their fair share of attention as citizens. Mr Asamoah urged service providers to learn the letters of sign language to be able to communicate with and make their services accessible to them.

He also urged parents of deaf children to learn the sign language from such children and get their other children to also learn it to ensure effective communication at home.