Disability Community Disappointed In Prez Akufo-Addo

“We wish to express our uttermost disappointment at the current Government’s seemingly disinterest in the meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities in the general governance of this country.”

The disability community in Ghana, led by the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), is disappointed in President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, for what they call tokenism approach to disability matters.

The federation is disappointed that only one person with disability was included in the 260 Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), nominated by the president recently, despite many persons with disabilities putting themselves up for the positions.

In press statement released by the federation, it says, “We wish to express our uttermost disappointment at the current Government’s seemingly disinterest in the meaningful participation of Persons with Disabilities in the general governance of this country.”

It further accuses the government of thinking that one is enough for persons with disabilities in everything; and, therefore, ignoring all calls to give more persons with disabilities opportunities in the governance of the country, since the appointment of one person with disability as Oti Reginal Minister.

The organization adds that, since one person with disability was appointed in the early part of this year as the Minister for Oti region, government seems to have taken an unfriendly decision that persons with disabilities do not deserve more opportunities.

It says, any suggestion to the presidency by organisations of persons with disabilities about increasing the number of persons with disabilities in governance in the country has been met with the unpleasant response that “one of you has been appointed as a Regional Minister”; to suggest that they should be content with it.

The statement claims that the GFD and other organisations of persons with disabilities have got some vibrant and competent members in the New Patriotic Party and from the time of the appointment of Ministers, they proposed the appointment a woman with disability as a Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

They also proposed the appointment of a person with disability to the Council of State, appointment of persons with disabilities to Governing Boards of various State Institutions, and appointment of Persons with Disabilities as MMDCEs.