THE WESTERN REGIONAL MINISTER MUST APOLOGIZE TO THE DEAF PERSONS IN GHANA OVER HIS RECKLESS STATEMENT

 The Network of Journalist for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa ( PROMOAFRICA) are very concerned about the welfare of people living with disability and so, condemn the reckless and unwarranted attack on deaf persons which was made by the Western Regional Minister, Hon. Kobby Okyere Darko.

 The said Minister who is also a Member of Parliament of Takoradi was heard on an audio when he was addressing his party supporters saying that, "Ghana is not ready to have a deaf person ("mumu") in parliament."

 We as an organization, abhor such derogatory statement made by the honorable member of parliament who is supposed to be knowledgeable about the United Nations

conventions on persons with disabilities and the National disability law.

 We therefore entreat the Minister to withdraw the statement made about the deaf and apologize to them. As his statement contradicts article 37(1) of the national Disability Act which states that, "A person shall not call a person with disability derogatory names because of the disability of the person". A person who contradicts subsection (1) commits an offence and is liable on a summary conviction to a fine not exceed fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or both.

 

Failure to do so in 5 working days, he will face the anger of the disability movement in Ghana.

 

Signed:

 

Seth Amoah Kwaku Addi

President

 

PROMOAFRICA CONDEMNED CONTINUES POLITICAL VIOLENCE AT EC REGISTRATION CENTERS

The Network of Journalists for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (PROMOAFRICA), per this statement condemn the growing act of political violence and shootings by known ministers of states and political actors at the ongoing EC registration centers across the country.

It's very disheartening to see persons with disability on a wheelchair, aged persons, pregnant women, or lactating mothers at the polling a station in Kasoa during shooting running for cover.

The EC directives that these people should go to their district offices doesn't mean that we don't visit polling stations to register again because most of the EC offices in the various districts are not disability friendly and so some disabled persons prefer to go their polling stations to register for convenience seek.

Unfortunately, Security personnel at the polling stations are not even holding truncheons, but Hon. Ministers of State Hawa Koomson and other political actors are brandishing harmful weapons, but well-trained security personnel deemed unnecessary to carry one.

We are hereby appealing to President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo Addo to respect the AFRICAN CHARTER ON HUMAN AND PEOPLES’ RIGHTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES IN AFRICA to take appropriate and effective measures to protect and promote the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities as stated in  article 7: a “States Parties shall: Take specific measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities situations of risk, including situations of armed conflict, arbitrary displacements, humanitarian emergencies, and natural disasters”.

We are also appealing to the National Security apparatus and the National Peace Council to step in and crack the whip without fear or favor. " Equality is Equity "

SIGNED: Mariam Nyarkoah Amponsah

Executive Director- PROMOAFRICA

(Tel: 00233506661433)

Ghana Disability Forum push for Quality Health Delivery System in Ghana

In Ghana Persons with disabilities often have difficulty in receiving proper healthcare they need compared to other citizen who do not have disabilities.

When compared to the general population, persons with disabilities have lower life expectancy, higher morbidity, and more difficulty finding and obtaining healthcare in Ghana.

The Ghana Disability Forum, an intellectual based and advocacy grouping at its midweek discussions, highlighted those concern to push for action and reforms in the healthcare sector.

The theme of the discussion was “health delivery system and persons with disabilities”.

It came to light that, there is very limited evidence on the organisation of healthcare services for persons with disability as there are currently no well‐designed studies focusing on organising the health services of persons with disability and concurrent physical problems.

Also, there are very few studies of organizational interventions targeting persons with disabilities and the results of those that were found need corroborative.

Ghana Disability Forum called for an urgent need for high‐quality health services research to identify optimal health services for persons with disabilities.

The Forum called for immediate establishment of active sign language specialists in the hospitals, need assistive tool to make the health environment disability friendly,  National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) must take a look at PWDs and how they can be supported in terms of cost, Encourage more PWDs to enroll in health institutions and contact other NGOs that provide assistive devices to help PWDS.

TodayGhanaNews can authoritatively state that, there is very limited evidence on the organisation of healthcare services for persons with disabilities in Ghana and there are currently no well‐designed studies focusing on organising the health services of persons with disability and concurrent physical problems.

The call by Ghana Disability Forum is a wake-up call for government of Ghana, NGOs and policy formulators to urgently look at the need for high‐quality health services research to identify optimal health services for persons with disabilities in Ghana.

One of the biggest challenges persons disabilities in Ghana face is accessing unfriendly nature of healthcare infrastructure.

Most of the discussants lamented that most healthcare facilities in Ghana lack ramps, wheelchairs, disability-friendly delivery beds, appropriate separate toilets for PWDs and sign language interpreters to assist in examination tables, medication and  healthcare providers’insensitivity and lack of knowledge.

Several accounts of the Forum member indicated that some healthcare providers were not only rude and insensitive but also they appeared ill-prepared to address the needs of  persons with disabilities because most health professionals were not trained to understand disability and to provide care to persons with disabilities in Ghana.

Source: Seth Addi/TodayGhanaNews

STATEMENT: PRESIDENT AKUFO-ADDO’S METAPHORICAL USAGE OF DISABILITY AND IT'S NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON THE RIGHTS OF PWD's

We, the Network of Journalists for the Promotion of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (PROMOAFRICA), have read news report in various media outlets attributed to H.E President Nana Akufo Addo saying “only the blind and deaf ignore NPP’s fulfilled promises” and many more.

We think the president’s usage of the “blindness and deafness” is very unacceptable. The use of disability by the president as metaphor is very derogative and distasteful.

We think, the president should have told his opponents who are pretending not to see his good works to   stop that, rather than calling them “blind and deaf”.

The point is, society sees disability as synonymous to lack of insight, inability to communicate, lack of agility, and not having the power to think for yourself or depend on your own self.  These are all misconceptions and stereotypes associated with disability which should be changed. When a person uses” blindness and deafness to connote negativity, the person rather reinforce such prejudices and stereotypes.

PROMOAFRICA, dislike  phrases such as , “I was blind and now I see", once voice falls on deaf ears, stand up on yourself” these are all negative statements which are against UN  convention of the Rights of Persons with disabilities.

  

Remember, the president wasn’t offering praises. he wasn’t admiring his opponent but was portraying them in a negative manner.

In reference, the President wanted to tell his opponent that they lack something, hence the usage of derogative and offensive word connoting disabilities.

We called on the President to uphold and adhere to the principles in the African Charter on Persons with disabilities. He should also stop using disability as metaphor that portrays negativity in his speeches.

Ghana has come a long way on issues concerning the rights of persons with disabilities.

.

Long Live Ghana

Long Live the disability movement in Ghana

Signed; Amoah Kwaku Addi

President, PROMOAFRICA

Mzbel Celebrates symbolic 39th Birthday with Persons with Disabilities

Ghanaian Hiplife artist and one of the most popular female singers in Accra, Ghana, Miss Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah, popularly known as Mzbel, today 26^th December 2018, celebrates her 39^th birthday with Persons with disabilities at her residence.

In attendance were over 35 persons with disabilities, close family members, the media and other celebrities. Who where treated with delicious African cuisines, drinks and live music performance by Mzbel and other artists and photo sections.  

The PROMOAFRICA Disability Music Ambassador according to reliable information available to TodaGhanaNews , “The all-white birthday bash with persons with Disability”, is because of her down to earth nature and also to serve as opportunity to announced her next disability reality show which will take Africa by storm come 2019-2020 and beyond.

Mr. Francis Adjetey Sowah, the founder and executive Director of Ghana Disabled Fellowship International in an exclusive interview with TodayGhanaNews, expressed gratitude to Mzbel for remembering them as special guest at her birthday, which in other sense she could have organized for the more privilege and well to do in society, but she did for them to fell special on this occasion.

He said, “Mzbel epitomizes hope for our future and unbridled zeal and tenacity and socialization”.

Mr. Francis Adjetey Sowah, who is also the President of the Amputee Football Federation of Africa and Chief Executive officer of EcotechGhana Technology and Ecological company Limited, said it is imperative therefore, that with such overwhelming love on the part of songstress Mzbel for bringing inscrutable smiles on their faces at such a time. “It’s appropriate we join and wish her a 39^th Happy Birthday celebration”.

He praised Mzbel by saying “She is one of the impeccable, quintessential women within the music industry who have us at heart for such a project with us. By extending a warm of friendship to enable us wine and dine with her is adorable, which goes a long way to motivate us give us a sense of humor and belongingness”.

“We are encouraged by her exploits and tenacity and intuitive skills and anticipate that with one accord, steadfast integrity and sacrifice” he added.

The Network of Journalists for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa (PROMOAFRICA), on 14^th February 2018 officially appointed Mzbel to serve as its special Music Ambassador to help raise funds to support its activities to train African journalists on the African Unions (AU) Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Her appointment as a Special Music Ambassador is based on your long-time experience, exposure and influence in the art, cultural and music industry in Ghana, couples with your enthusiasm to work with the underprivileged, the marginalized, women and children in Ghana.

As Special Ambassador, she was tasked in helping to promote positively the rights of persons with disabilities in Ghana and Africa and work closely with PROMOAFRICA’s projects from the period February 2018 to February 2021.

Source: Seth Addi and Anita Frimpong

/TodayGhanaNews

All is set for Official launch of Dominica’s foundation ICT training for disabled in Ashanti

Mr. Dannis Osei-Marfo 

Billions of dollars are invested every year in projects meant to fight poverty, provide quality education services for the youth, improve access to healthcare services, and more.

Unfortunately, too many of these projects leave behind persons with disabilities.

Both governments and civil society, including disabled persons organizations (DPOs), can play a role in holding bilateral and multilateral international development agencies accountable for disability inclusion in their projects.

That is the main motivation behind PROMOAFRICA’s will to partner Dominica’s Foundation and Aviella Foundation to organised an ICT training for persons with disabilities in Ashanti region to accelerate their integration to society and the alleviate poverty.

Speaking in a exclusive TodayGhanaNews, the coordinator of Dominica’s Foundation Ashanti ICT training project persons with disabilities, Mr. Dannis Osei-Marfo said, all is set for the grand launch of the project at Kumasi cultural centre on 11th August 2018.

Mr. Dannis Osei-Marfo explained that, the project is in concept with the Africa Union protocol on persons with disabilities in Africa, adopted by African heads of states in Addis Ababa -Ethiopia in January 2018.

Ms Dominica Nana Esi Amankwa

He said, “The foundation of this project is derived from article 14 of the protocol which encourage States Parties to take effective and appropriate measures, including peer support, to enable persons with disabilities to attain and maintain maximum independence, full physical, mental, social and vocational ability, and full inclusion and participation in all aspects of life, including by:
a. Organising, strengthening and extending comprehensive habilitation and rehabilitation services and programmes, particularly in the areas of health, employment, education and social services;
c. Promoting the availability, knowledge and use of appropriate, suitable and affordable assistive devices and technologies;
d. Supporting the design, development, production, distribution and servicing of assistive devices and equipment for persons with disabilities, adapted to local conditions;
e. Developing, adopting and implementing standards, including regulations on accessibility and universal design, suitable to local conditions.

He said, so far, the Chief Executive officer of Dominica’s foundation, Ms. Dominica Nana Esi Amankwaa has confirm with all the local in international dignitaries for their full participation.

He said, speakers at the event will include, Ms. Belinda Nana Ekua Amoah (Mzbel) who is PROMOAFRICA Disability music ambassador, The Ashanti Regional Minister Hon. Simon Osei Mensah, the Regional Director of Department of Social Welfare, Vice-President of PROMOAFRICA, Mr. Jeorge Wilson Kingson, and local representative of Aviella Foundation.

He said, there will also be an exhibition of art and craft made by persons with disabilities in the region and a mini funds raising toward the project.

Source: Seth Addi/TodayGhanaNews

PROMOAFRICA NOMINATE MIZBEL AS DISABILITY MUSIC AMBASSADOR

PROMOAFRICA ON 14th February 2018, AT LA VILLA BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN ACCRA-GHANA, CONFIRMED ON MZBEL THE PROMOAFRICA MUSIC AMBASSADOR TITLE TO HELP RAISE FUNDS TO SUPPORT OUR ACTIVITIES TO TRAIN AFRICA JOURNALISTS ON  AFRICA UNION CHARTER ON PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES.

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