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Negative cultural practices, bane of PWDs – GFDOs President
GFDOs president
The national president of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFDOs), Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi says life is becoming unbearable for People with Disabilities (PWDs) due to unhealthy cultural and traditional practices in some parts of society in this modern age and advancement.
According to him, “Some people even feel that we don’t deserve to live because of one disability or the other. As a result, mothers who have children with disability live in fear and discomfort.”
Mr Homadzi said this in a no-holds-barred interview with The Spectator about a day in the life of a PWD.
“Sometimes, it feels as though the fundamental human rights and freedoms of citizens guaranteed under the 1992 Constitution do not apply to PWDs because we are always discriminated against at all levels,” he lamented.
“Saddest of all, it may surprise you that some communities in this age still have some of these negative cultural practices against persons with albinism. Some people feel that such persons do not have the right to live because they are a taboo.”
According to Mr. Homadzi, he still receives complaints of discrimination against their members in the health and education sectors, the job market and other places.
“And I know it’s true because I suffer same. People treat us as if we are second-class citizens and do not want us to be close to them for any reason,” he disclosed.
“In some communities, it is believed that when you are going out in the morning for any activity and you meet a person or somebody with a visual impairment, it means a misfortune is about to befall you; for which reason you must return home” he said.
“People are still convinced that disability is a curse or punishment for a wrong a person has done and so we are treated with contempt. Some think associating with us could lead to a curse or punishment.”
Unfortunately, he disclosed that the GFDOs efforts to educate people to do away with such unfortunate practices have been in vain.
“We have disabilities but there is a lot we can do for this country if we are given the same opportunities as those who have no disabilities. It is sad to say that some people don’t understand why a PWD should be given a job or occupy a high position. We also have the capacity to contribute to the growth of our societies,” he said.
Mr Homadzi said it was important for society to also understand that apart from being born with a deformity, there were environmental accidents and a few medical conditions like glaucoma, measles, cataract that could make a person blind or deaf or both.
“We have told our stories in different ways but people have failed to accept us. We need everyone who has a louder voice to speak for us. We need the media to do a lot of advocacy and education on our behalf to change those perceptions,” he appealed.
He said the GFDOs would be happy to see religious institutions highlight their plights from their pulpits to turn the hearts of society in their favour.
From Dzifa Tetteh Tay, Tema
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Traders, ‘Okada’ riders take over Circle pavement
• Korle-Bu CEO with staff of Nivaansh MediQas
Activities of traders and drug addicts are contributing to make the Kwame Nkrumah Interchange (Circle) area very uncomfortable and unsafe for commuters.
Day in and out, pedestrians are ‘ejected’ from the pavement created for their safety as traders preferred to sell their wares on that space.
That hinders the free movement of the pedestrians.
The small space left for the pedestrians are also shared with ‘Okada’ riders.
As if these woes are not enough for a commuter on a single day, they also have to navigate carefully to avoid clashes with drug addicts and the mentally challenged.
These people have turned the pavements into their places of abode, covering every inch of space with their wares.
Our photographer, Lizzy Okai, captures some of the unfriendly scenes the authorities must try and deal with to restore sanity to the area.
By Lizzy Okai
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NDC outlines demands before committing to Peace Pact
The National Chairman of the opposition National Democratic Congress (NDC), Johnson Asiedu Nketia, has set forth specific conditions that the party insists must be met before considering signing the Peace Pact advocated by the National Peace Council in anticipation of the December 7 elections.
Mr. Nketia expressed scepticism about the effectiveness of past Peace Pacts, highlighting that they had not achieved their intended outcomes, particularly referencing the 2020 elections, during which eight NDC members were allegedly killed by national security operatives without accountability.
During an August 20 meeting with the National Peace Council at the NDC headquarters, Mr. Nketia detailed the certain conditions for the NDC’s participation in the Peace Pact.
The NDC is demanding that the recommendations from the investigation into the violence during the Ayawaso West Wuogon by-election be fully implemented.
They also want those responsible for election-related violence in the last election to be prosecuted, stressing the importance of justice and prevention.
The party is calling for accountability regarding irregularities in the printing of ballot papers and insists that visible measures be taken to prevent such issues from happening again.
They are also pushing for a thorough investigation into the missing IT equipment from the Electoral Commission’s (EC) warehouse, expressing concerns about the integrity of the EC’s systems and the potential bias of its staff.
Furthermore, the NDC is urging the President to publicly commit to respecting the results of the 2024 elections. Lastly, the party insists that the Peace Pact should be signed by key figures, including the Inspector General of Police, the Chief Justice, the Attorney-General, and the National Security Coordinator, before they will consider signing it themselves.
Source: Citinewsroom.com
