The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), yesterday celebrated the 2024 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in Kumasi, Ashanti Region.
The event is a prelude to the global observation on December 3, strategically rescheduled to ensure that disability issues remain a priority during Ghana’s upcoming general elections on December 7.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Amplifying for an inclusive and Sustainable Future.”
This year’s observance was held at the Miklin Hotel at Kumasi in the Ashanti Region.
During the event, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, the National President of GFD, urged successive governments to include persons with disabilities in national development.
According to him, persons with disabilities have the potential and the capacity when it comes to nation building.
He added that, society has not been fair to the persons with disabilities.
He encouraged successive governments and the society to give them the chance to exhibit their capabilities.
Mr. Atsu also appealed to the Chiefs in Asanteman to help fight the discrimination and physical violence against persons with albinism in Ghana.
Mr Atsu says the discrimination and physical violence against persons with albinism is as a result of culture and traditions in some communities.
On his part, the Chairperson for the occasion, Nana Osei Appiah Kusi, Akyempemhene (Asante Asokwa Traditional Area) assured them that, he make the discrimination and violence against persons with albinism the thing of past.
According to him, he will appeal to the Asanteman Council to sit on this particular issue, in order to put adequate measures in place to eradicate such practices.
On that same occasion, the Ashanti Regional Chief Iman, Sheikh Abdul Mumin Haroun urged the next government not to joke with Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).
He advised Ghanaians to desist from discrimination and physical violence against persons with disabilities.
According to Sheikh Abdul Mumin, being disabled is not a punishment from God.
“God created us all in his own imagine, so I plead to everyone to stop the discrimination and personal violence against persons with disabilities,” he added.
Story By Justice Marfo
