By: Christopher Pappoe | Voltaonlinegh |
A Ho-based disability focused organisation, Voice Ghana has raised issues of inclusion of persons with disability (PWDs) and particularly called on the Central Tongu District Assembly to as a matter of urgency change drawings and construction of public places to conform to the Disability Act.
Parliament enacted the Persons with Disability Act 2006, (Act 715) meant to improve the life of PWDs by including them in the mainstream society especially in terms of accessibility and per the Act, public places ought to have access ramps to enable PWDs who will be wheelchair-bound to have access to the buildings.
The Act also stipulates that ten years after the passage of the law which had since elapsed, old public buildings must be provided with appropriate facilities to make it accessible to and available for use by PWDs.
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Programmes Manager of Voice Ghana, Charles Nyante said “every public place especially clinics, health centres and CHPS compounds should have access ramps to aid even the sick who cannot walk have access to these facilities.”
Mr. Nyante lamented the no access ramp leading to a crucial institution such as the Social Welfare Department saying, “persons living with disability lose their self confidence once they have to drop from their wheelchair and crawl to have access to any public office.”
Central Tongu District Coordinating Director, Ruben Akufo acknowledged the call from Voice Ghana and noted that the assembly had the welfare of PWDs at heart and promised that the assembly would continue to construct projects which will be friendly to persons living with disability.
Presiding Member of the assembly, Davidson Michael Ezuh encouraged Voice Ghana to continue making the voices of PWDs to be heard across the region and asked that it be extended to other parts of the country.
Mr. Ezuh assured that they would as assembly members make the assembly deliver on their promises of making buildings in the district disability-friendly.
Source: www.voltaonlinegh.com
