Disabled Youth call for implementation of LI on Disability Act

Martin Amidu Attorney General and Minister of Justice

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled Youth, Upper East Chapter, has added its voice to numerous calls on the government to expedite action on the implementation of the Legislative Instrument on the Disability Act 715, which Parliament passed five years ago.

After a three-day capacity building workshop on the provisions in the Disability Act and the United Nations Convention on Persons With Disabilities (UNCRPD) for five selected district leaders from Bongo, Bolgatanga, Kassena-Nankana East, Builsa and Talensi-Nabdam districts in the Upper East Region, the federation also called on the government to ensure that the 2% of the District Assembly Common Fund for Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) is paid into the accounts timely.

They are also demanding that PWDs should be made signatories to the accounts, to enable them monitor the disbursement and utilisation of the money.

In a press statement issued and signed by Mark Akubire, Regional Chairman, and Aniah David, Regional Secretary, the federation is also calling for the incorporation of sign language into the training of nurses and security officers.

Sign language interpreters should also be engaged in the various departments and agencies such as hospitals, courts and police stations, to enable hearing-impaired persons express themselves in these areas.

While calling on the Ministry of Education to provide disability aids in the drawings of school  buildings to make them accessible to all PWDs, the federation has also called on government to ensure that the offices of the regional and district councils on persons with disabilities are established immediately.

According to the federation, if these issues are addressed, PWDs would be able to enjoy their rights and privileges, as well as perform their responsibilities without any constraints.

This would go a long way to enable them contribute their quota to the development of the country.