Need for efforts to develop the potentials of disabled children – Ankamah

Mr. George Yaw Ankamah, acting Brong Ahafo Regional Director of the Ministry of Women and Children’s Affairs, has called on stakeholders to make efforts to bring out the potentials of People With Disabilities (PWDs).

This was contained in a statement issued in Sunyani on Thursday copied to the Ghana News Agency in connection with the celebration of this year’s National Children’s Day on Friday, August 31.

It is on the theme "The Right of Children With Disabilities: The Role of the Community” to promote awareness on the statutes of Ghanaian children with disabilities.

Mr. Ankamah said disability had remained a major challenge among children in Ghana and some of the causes such as preventable diseases, accidents, inadequate parental and neo-natal heath care services and harmful traditional practices could be avoided.

“Poverty has become a major contribution to disability since poor nutrition linked to Vitamin “A’ deficiency in infants causes blindness and lead to children being born with disabilities," he said.

Mr. Ankamah said disability could not be ignored by the society because about 10% of Ghanaians had some form of disabilities and faced total alienation.

He expressed concern about some public buildings not being disability friendly while some disabled children were denied access to education, abandoned and others confined to prevent them from participating in family and community deliberations.