Gender Minister supports reforms of Disability Act

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled on Thursday presented a Gap Analysis Report on the Persons With Disability Act, (Act 715, 2006) to the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection to consider for reforms.

A review of the Act by Law and Development Associates in April revealed a number of inconsistencies with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Minister, Nana Oye Lithur told a delegation of the federation led by Mr Joseph Adu Boampong, immediate past President of the Federation that two years to the expiration of the 10-year moratorium, most public buildings are still unfriendly to persons with disability.

She said the ministry would include the issues of the Act in the 2014 work plan and ensure that it is amended to meet the needs and aspirations of persons with disability.

Nana Lithur observed that the act is weak on employment and urged the leadership of the federation to study other nation’s Disability Acts in order to enhance it.

She called on the federation to make suggestions compelling enough to convince the Attorney-General’s Department to consider immediate action on the amendment.

Nana Lithur asked members to scale up its advocacy efforts by engaging the Office of the President, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice as well as key ministries, department and agencies to galvanise support for the reforms.

She suggested to the federation to initiate consultative meetings to collect informed submissions that would help bring out a “rich legal framework” to adequately protect the rights of persons with disability.

Persons with Disability in Ghana are confronted with limited access to education, unemployment, stigmatisation, social exclusion, negative socio-cultural perception and poverty.

Nana Lithur announced that the ministry is undergoing restructuring to guarantee total inclusiveness of persons with disability in political, social and economic decision making process.

As part of the restructuring effort a 40-feet container office would be constructed to cater for the needs of Persons With Disability while a Resource Mobilisation Unit would be created at the ministry.

Source: GNA