The onus is on the media to continue fighting for the rights of the disabled

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled, (GFD) is proposing the formation of a media caucus to consistently report on issues that promote the rights of persons with disabilities, (PWD) in the country, particularly after the passage of the bill by parliament.

According to the GFD, the passage of the bill by parliament is only a means to an end and that there is a need to continue the campaign until issues that militate against their rights are addressed.

The President of the Association, Mr. Yaw Ofori Debrah, who stated this at a media seminar on the implementation the National Disability Law said “if the bill is to make any impact, then media must be proactive and rise up to its respected role. They must see themselves as a strong pressure group and collaborate with other stakeholders to implement policies aimed at promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.”

The seminar was organised by the Volunteer Service Organisation, Ghana, (VSO) in collaboration with the GFD as part of the processes and strategies being implemented by civil society organisations to create awareness of the law. The organizers say they found it appropriate to engage the media for a start to discuss how best to move forward the implementation of the law and ensure its ownership by all Ghanaians.
He emphasized the need for the media to see it as a social responsibility to be well informed about national and international frameworks that promote the rights of PWD and hold society accountable. This, he hopes will enhance their social image and acceptance.

Disability is a human rights issue and there are several international conventions protecting the rights of Persons with Disabilities, (PWD). Some include the UN Declaration on the rights of mentally retarded persons, the disabled persons and the UN world programme of action concerning disabled persons. These declarations define their rights to enjoy decent life, respect for their human dignity, medical, psychological and initial treatment.

After nearly ten years of advocacy, Ghana’s parliament has passed the National Disability bill into law and is currently awaiting presidential assent. The GFD believes and appreciates the immense role played by the media so far in the struggle to ensure that rights of its members are protected.

The belief of the federation is that, when disability issues are mentioned in the media, they get straight into people’s lives. Nana Oye Lithur of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, (CHRI) wondered why after a month of the passage of law by parliament it has not received presidential assent. “I am appealing to the president to use the speed as he did to the passage of the ROPAB bill to sign the National Disability Law. They have already shown the political will by letting it go through parliament and must continue with it.”

Mr. Amidu Ibrahim Tanko, Country Director of the VSO stated the need to keep the law focussed on the national agenda in order to change the negative public perception of PWD to enable them realize their full potentials. He said while Ghanaians celebrate the passage of the bill into law they must also pause to reflect on its implications and consequences for the disability movement in the country. “We all stand the risk of allowing the window of opportunity to close if we do not build up the moment to realize the enactment of the law.”