Prez Mahama Asked To Pass LI To Back PWD Act

Prez John Dramani Mahama

A human right and social justice activist in the Bolgatanga Municipality in the Upper East Region of Ghana Awal Ahmed, has called on President John Dramani Mahama to expedite action on the passage of a Legislative Instrument that would ensure full operationalisation of the Persons With Disability Act (Act 715) passed into law in 2006.

                           

The PWD Act (Act 715) sought among other things to guarantee PWDs access to public places, free general and specialist medical care, education, employment and transportation. It also sought to ensure that PWDs play an active and central role in all aspects of life, regulate the commitments and responsibilities of state and private duty-bearers and service providers.

For instance, an assessment of public buildings in the Bolgatanga and Bawku Municipalities by RISE-Ghana, a non-governmental organization in 2012 revealed that about 95 percent of them were not disability friendly. Some of these buildings included Basic and Senior High Schools, Hospitals, The Courts, Traditional Councils and Ministries, Departments and Agencies. 

In a signed press statement issued to the media including Savannahnews, Mr. Ahmed said the passage of an LI would bring to an end the gross violation of provisions enshrined in the Act from the construction and health sectors.

While congratulating President Mahama on his election to the high office of the land and his previous support to PWDs such as the directive to increase their share of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF) allocation from 2 percent to 3 percent, Mr. Ahmed also urged the President to use his first 100 days to amend the disbursement procedure to make PWDs signatories to the 3 percent DACF account.

Mr. Ahmed who is also the Project Manager of RISE-Ghana, further called on the President to allocate adequate resources to the various special schools and rehabilitation centers located across the country.