People with disabilities not less human beings – Chief
Nana Ansah Sasraku, chief of Mamfe and the Kyidomhene of the Akuapem Traditional Area, has observed that people with disabilities are no lesser beings and therefore society must not look down on their capabilities in the national development agenda.
He said given the opportunities on the same scale, such as educational and job opportunities, persons living with disabilities could prove their competencies and capabilities in every field just like any other human being.
The Chief who was speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) at Mamfe Akuapem on chieftaincy matters reiterated that disability was not inability and that people living with disabilities should be given the needed facilities to aid their education and employment opportunities.
Nana cited Dr Seidu Daannaa and Dr Obeng Asamoah, who are the Minister for Chieftaincy and Traditional Affairs and President of the Ghana Blind Union respectively, as clear examples that having a disability is not inability.
He said Dr Danaa had the expertise and competence to move the ministry to an appreciable level due to his long association with the chieftaincy institution and lamented over the derogatory remarks made about him to the effect that he could not be a minister because of his disability.
Nana Sasraku said it was unfortunate that in this era of development that Ghana needed integration, as well as contributions from all hands, some people still held to old beliefs that persons with disabilities were social misfits and so must be treated as such.
According to the chief, nobody raised an objection about Dr Daannaa’s disability when in his capacity as Administrator of the National House of Chiefs he toured every regional House to discuss issues of reforms, but that when his hard work was recognized people raised objections.
“It is only by sheer providence that some of us have no disability and we must therefore accept and embrace those with disability as a matter of gratefulness and not to behave as if we are more human than them”, he stated.
Source: GNA