The NDC Disability Desk has expressed deep disappointment over President John Dramani Mahama’s failure to appoint any persons with disabilities (PWDs) to major government positions, despite their high expectations given President Mahama’s previous record.
In his former administration, he appointed Hon. Seidu Danaa, a visually impaired lawyer, as Minister for Culture and Chieftaincy Affairs. Additionally, the NDC was the first political party in Ghana to create a Disability Desk, which contributed significantly to the development of the party’s manifesto on disability inclusion.
In an interview with DisabilityNewsGH.com, some members of the disability community shared their shock that President Mahama has not maintained this record. Currently, there is no Minister, Deputy Minister, CEO, or Board Chair with a disability in his government.
The disability community currently holds only a few notable government positions. Mr. Abdul Rahman Ben-Braimah, a member of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), has been appointed to the Board of the National Youth Authority (NYA). Additionally, Visually impaired Jacob Atule Adongo is a Deputy CEO at the Youth Employment Agency (YEA), although he has held this position since previous administrations.
They also expressed concern over the removal of the Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD).
The physically challenged Executive Secretary was replaced by an able-bodied person despite strong opposition from the disability fraternity. To add to their disappointment, the former Executive Secretary, a woman, was succeeded by a man — a decision many found unfortunate.
Furthermore, Mr. Adongo, the visually impaired Deputy CEO of the Youth Employment Agency, was nearly removed from his post, but this was prevented due to strong advocacy by the disability community.
According to these advocates, this sidelining of persons with disabilities demonstrates a broader societal lack of appreciation for the talents and capabilities of PWDs.
In a recent interview on Power FM, monitored by DisabilityNewsGH.com, Madam Joyce Gyamfi of the NDC Disability Desk lamented how members of the desk travelled extensively across the country, canvassing votes from persons with disabilities with the hope of securing meaningful recognition within the government. Yet, they remain disappointed.
Madam Gyamfi also criticised party executives in many constituencies for blatantly ignoring a presidential directive to allocate at least one government appointee slot to persons with disabilities in all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies nationwide.
She pointed out that, for example, the Ashanti Region has only 4 districts complying with this directive out of 43 Assemblies, while the Eastern Region has just 5 out of 33 districts following through.
While commending government policies such as free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, skills training, and entrepreneurship support, Madam Gyamfi stressed that these initiatives cannot compensate for President Mahama’s failure to appoint a significant number of PWDs to key government positions.
She emphasised that appointing persons with disabilities to government roles not only offers them a platform to showcase their talents and expertise but also ensures that their voices and concerns are represented at the highest levels of decision-making. “No one can tell our stories better than ourselves,” she said.
Madam Gyamfi called on Chief of Staff Mr. Julius Debrah and President Mahama to urgently reconsider the appointment of persons with disabilities.
She advocated for deliberate affirmative action in the appointment of persons with disabilities.
She also urged that reserved positions be created within the police service, fire service, and military for children of persons with disabilities, enabling them to better support their families.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
