Trauma of women with disabilities in Ghana
Audrey Micah, Ghanadot
Accra, May 29, Ghanadot - About 650
million people in the world or 10 per cent of the world’s
population live with disabilities, and frequently encounter a
myriad of physical and social obstacles. They often lack the
opportunities of the mainstream population and are usually among
the most marginalized in society.
Women face barriers to full equality and advancement because of
such factors as race, age, language, ethnicity, culture,
religion or disability.
Persistence of certain cultural, legal and institutional
barriers makes women and girls with disabilities the victims of
two-fold discrimination: as women and as persons with
disabilities.
Girls and women of all ages with any form of disability are
among the more vulnerable and marginalized of society. There is
therefore need to take into account and to address their
concerns in all policy-making and programming. Special measures
are needed at all levels to integrate them into the mainstream
of development."
Often, women with disabilities are invisible both among those
promoting the rights of persons with disabilities, and those
promoting gender equality and the advancement of women.
According to the Secretary General of UN, "Less than 5 per cent
of children and young persons with disabilities have access to
education and training; and girls and young women face
significant barriers to participating in social life and
development"
In Ghana, most of these disabled women
do not have any skills. They may not be sent to school. They are
just told to sit. And the family will be providing food and
maybe some old clothes from the other family members.
"You hardly find anything about women with disabilities in any
programmes and activities. They hardly mention the specific
issues linked to women with disabilities. Even after the Beijing
conference, there has been hardly any thing specific about women
with disabilities in action plans. I hear about it constantly
from disabled women who are my friends. I believe that women
with disabilities face multiple discrimination." A businessman
told GhanaDot.
"We lead very tough and difficult lives and though many people
and human rights activists are trying their best for us, much
has not been done, we need to more visible," lamented a disabled
woman.
Explaining her ordeal to GhanaDot, Autie Rose, a beggar at the
Kwame Nkrumah Circle said "a car knocked me down when I was
chasing a car to beg for money, I didn't have money for hospital
so now look at my other leg, it is of no use now and since I
have nothing to depend on, I am back here again".
Another also said her family has neglected her because she is
disable, and “now sleep at bus stops and lory stations. No one
wants people like me in their homes and there is no place for us
prepared by the government either, so we are left at the mearcy
of the streets. We need help.
Accra, May 29, Ghanadot - The Deputy Minister of
Information and National Orientation, Samuel Okudzetu
Ablakwa has stated in an interview with GhanaDot that
Dr. Kwame Nkrumah still remains one of the most
influential Pan Africanists of the 20th century. He
said; it is in his role as a nation builder that led
Ghana to an independent country....More
Accra, May 28, Ghanadot - Stakeholders in the
nation’s education system are divided on whether the current
three year duration for the Senior High School should be
maintained or be increased to four years....More
Commentary, May 29, Ghanadot -
With youth unemployment hovering at 26%, according to 2006
statistics, our esteemed minds in Accra are debating about the
length of the school year for the senior high school (SHS)
program.
Accra, May 29, Ghanadot - About 650 million people in the
world or 10 per cent of the world’s population live with
disabilities, and frequently encounter a myriad of physical and
social obstacles. They often lack the opportunities of the
mainstream population and are usually among the most
marginalized in society.....More
