UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA

Press release

UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA SUPPORTS GHANAIAN JOURNALISTS ON DISABILITIES

The University of Manitoba, Faculty of Social Work Canada, is to collaborate with the Network of Journalist for the Promotion of Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa-Ghana Chapter (PROMOAFRICA) to exchange ideas and programs that will promote the wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Ghana.

University of Manitoba based in Winnipeg in Canada, closely works with Canadian Centre for Disability Studies, will aid the PROMOAFRICA to come out with findings on the impact of the first phase of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities which ends in this December and other areas that will promote and improve on the lives of persons with disabilities. Also, other areas the university seeks collaboration with the Journalists network includes, research, advocacy, exchange programs and ideas, and training on social works.

Prof. Don Fuchs, Project Director, Comani Student Exchange program University of Manitoba announced this in a meeting between the leadership of the Network of Journalist for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disability in Africa-Ghana Chapter, which was witness by the Programs manager of the Secretariat of the African Decade of Persons with Disabilities, madam Aida Sarr from Senegal, Mr. Gregory Lankono advocacy office of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD) and chaired by Mr. Oman Diop, the special adviser of the Mayor of Dakar-Senegal.

On his part, Mr. Seth K. Addi, the president of the Journalists Network thank the University of Manitoba and added that its partnership with the university will play an important role in ensuring that African governments makes the necessary changes to national and local laws, policies and programs to advance the lives of the nearly 80 million Africans with disabilities.

He said the democratic environment in the country gives media professionals to be more responsible in their reporting. “But it is society’s responsibility to demand a more democratic media and have a duty to get their message to the press so that their voices can be heard and reach the general public” he added.

He said partnership with the University gives confident and determination to the network in their struggle to gain the recognition and inclusion of persons with disabilities in all sectors of Ghanaian life.