Change Is Imperative! – The Disabled

Every year, the rhetoric and show of solidarity for the disabled return to our various seminar halls on World Disability Day, observed every 3^rd December, but the status-quo still remains.

The theme for World Disability Day celebration, 2013 was "Break barriers, open doors: for an inclusive society for all". Brilliant theme! And I know a more brilliant one will certainly be formed again this year as well. But the irony is; those who formulate these fantastic themes are the same ones who actually perpetrate the acts of exclusion against Persons with Disabilities (PWDs). Now, who is responsible for breaking these barriers and the opening of doors? These are artificial barriers and doors that don’t need any telling to remove but rather some doing. We have had too many very loaded but empty themes over the years, and the time to take any meaningful action is now! What is most intriguing is that, those who are supposed to either break those barriers they themselves have created, and then open or even break the doors they have shut, or at least, instruct people to undertake these exercises on their behalf, are the same persons who are continually discriminating against us. What a PARADOX!

It is said that before a problem becomes an issue, advocates must first place it on the agenda of those actors who have the power to solve it.

The Parliament of Ghana passed the law on Persons with Disabilities (Act 715) in the year 2006. This action by the state was believed by some, to being the panacea to the various challenges confronting PWDs. But the disabled community remained chronically anxious like a motor that stays revved up, knowing how carelessly-lazy, issues of disability are handled in this country. But sadly enough, our skepticism has been proven right. Eight years into the passing of this law, which granted amongst others, a-ten-year moratorium for inaccessible public places to be redesigned – making them accessible has not been complied with. And as if to put iodine into injury, even new buildings that are springing are still without access, and the state lame-darkly is looking on. See, I have always maintained that “disability issues are afterthoughts on the conscience of this nation.” This has further been proven by the state’s inability to invite the disabled to join in the recently organized National Economic Forum (NEF) which undoubtedly, has the potential to make life better for many Ghanaians living with disabilities. Yet we are the country’s poorest people.

Furthermore, the Minister for Youth and Sports commissioned a group of brand ambassadors responsible for raising funds to send some football fans to the world cup in Brazil. And again, there was no person with disability, fit to be in that group.

Football fans have on several occasions been sent to various tournaments involving our National teams, but no disability group or groups have had the opportunity to go and also cheer our beloved national teams, and it is as though cheering too is a challenge to us.

The good news though is that the tournament is in June, and therefore the President has some time to make amends by sending some disabled supporter-groups to Brazil, to also support the Black Stars. We also need opportunities to have change of environments, learn other people’s cultures and above all, network with other international disability groups.

We have also been suggesting to both previous and current governments that, PWDs be appointed amongst government appointees to the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), to represent our views and interests so we also contribute our quota to help build a better Ghana. But this has not yet been heeded to. Our thinking really is that, if our representatives are at the various MMDAs and are involved in policy formulation, planning and implementation, they would point out some of the lapses and oversights, relative to the needs of PWDs.

Now for the first time in the history of Ghana, a disabled, in the person of Dr. Daanaa has been made a Minister. And I must congratulate the President for his courage and boldness in taking this very important decision. But my very humble question is why this man was handed a portfolio like that of chieftaincy which we all knew was going to be hostile to him, due to the history of so-called tradition, chieftaincy and disability in our country? True to that suspicion, some chiefs from some parts of this country opposed his nomination to the extent that I even had to write an article to condemn them. (Daily Graphic No. 19088, March 1, 2013 page 10).

Meanwhile, our interests would have been well served if this man or another (disabled) had rather been sent to the Ministry of Women, Gender and Social Protection under whose jurisdiction we fall.

For me, whether all of these are acts of commission or omission, the harsh reality is; 82% of PWDs in Ghana live below the poverty line, and they constitute the single largest group of excluded and chronically poor people in this country.

Already, Persons with disabilities live in a country designed primarily for the able-bodied. We virtually live on the margins of society, deprived of life’s fundamental needs. And as a result, we go through the experience of profound negative emotions, at times accompanied by the feelings of worthlessness and inordinate poverty. All because the state has reneged on its responsibility to provide Equality of Opportunity and Accessibility for PWDs hence, leaving us completely drenched in nothingness. With no hope in sight at least for now, “adapt and adjust” have become the mantra of persons living with disabilities in Ghana.

It is therefore heart-aching for us to continue experiencing these shockingly-high levels of discrimination. What did we do wrong? After all, we didn’t choose to become what we have become. Circumstances made us what we are.

Our expectation therefore of the state, going forward is that; an affirmative action be set in motion to immediately begin the process of inclusion. This should begin with the setting up of a Ministry responsible for Persons with Disabilities, with the minister having a cabinet status. Or at worst, to avoid another bureaucracy, a deputy Minister must be appointed at the Ministry of Women, Gender and Social protection in charge of disability issues. This will at least show some level of commitment on the side of government to confronting head-on, issues bothering the disabled community.

With the adoption of one of the above interventions by the state, the disabled would have the enabling platform and environment to prove to this country that, not only do PWDs have experiences which are not available to the abled-bodied; we also will show the world that we can do anything, and that nobody needs to feel sorry for us. We only need support and assistance in other to enjoy and do the things in life that the so-called able-bodied take for granted. We actually want to show that, instead of playing on the tragedy in our lives, we will tell a story of “discrimination and distinction.”

Again, if Persons with Disabilities will be listened to, and given the opportunity, an explosion of knowledge of endurance and psyche would take place. This is because; we transcend cultural, traditional, political and socio-economic barriers to live, even as human beings. Ghanaians will then have the opportunity to learn the art of endurance in difficult times.

There is also the urgent need to conscientize Ghanaians on their negative perception of Persons living with Disabilities because the truth is; nobody is a disabled. Barriers, prejudices and exclusion by society (purposely or inadvertently) are the reasons some are classified disabled and others able.

The good thing however is; we are comforted in the knowledge that; "disability is not a brave show of courage in the face of adversity.” It is rather an ingenious way to live. This is our philosophy, and that is what keeps us surviving even in the turbulence created by discrimination, disrespect and disillusionment.

INCLUSION IS A MUST and the time is NOW!
Gab Norgah (Ghana Society of the Physically Challenged – New Juaben, Koforidua)

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