The United Nations, UN has since 1992 observed and celebrated this day, December 3, as International Day of Persons with Disabilities, globally. The theme for this year is, “Amplifying the leadership of persons with disabilities for an inclusive and sustainable future.”
There have been varying degrees of success since the institution of the day particularly in the areas of acceptance, integration and inclusion of disability as a human condition, worldwide. Africa on the whole has made some significant efforts in this regard.
In Ghana, we had the 1992 Constitution make definite and accommodating provisions abhorring any hitherto abuse or offence, be it culturally or otherwise, for disability or a person with disability.
Ghana took the step further, in line with requirements of 1992 Constitution and international conventions to pass the seminal Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) under the leadership of vintage President John Agyekum Kufuor in 2006.
Today, as we mark 32 years of this global and nationally adopted, International Day of Persons with Disabilities, we wish to remind Ghanaians of the offence of law in denigrating, deprecating or denying disability or persons with disability the rightful place as a part of humanity and being equal citizens of Ghana respectively.
Sections 4(1) and 37(1)&(2) of the Act 715 make it abundantly clear that the use of derogatory language and discrimination of any kind against disability be it temporary or permanent breaches the law, and it is punishable under law.
May we live in the spirit of cordiality, respect and collective interest with disability as a human condition which all of humanity experience as:
- a medical or biological impairment,
- an activity limitation,
- a participatory restriction, or
- a combination of any.
In the wake of the recent attacks at the person of former President Kufuor on account of his use of a wheelchair at the ripe age of 86, we wish to add that ageing has been theorised since 2003 by Mark Priestly as a disability condition.
For anyone to disrespect an octogenarian who has paid his dues so well to the country and humanity in general, is to show how disrespectful one can be to the very foundations of our culture and being. Let it NEVER be repeated.
God bless our homeland Ghana, and help the cause of disability in making our nation great and strong.
James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr., Ph.D.
Executive Director, Rights of Youth and Disability (RYD) International.