Media Urged To Promote the Rights of Persons with Disability

17-03-2010 Media Urged To Promote the Rights of Persons with Disability

The Network of Journalists for the Promotion of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa-Ghana Chapter (PROMOAFRICA) has called on the Ghanaian media to be circumspect in their reportage and also desist from making derogatory statements on persons with disabilities. Journalists are obliged not use terminologies that puts persons with disabilities into public ridicule. Speaking to Radio Ghana in an interview, the Local Chapter President of the Network, Seth K. Addi, said the network over the years has noted with grave concern certain unfavourable reports and words used by some media practitioners on persons with disability, which according to them contravene to article 37(1) and (2) of the Disability Act, 2006(Act715) which clearly states that, a person shall not call a person with disability derogatory names due to the state of disability of the person. A person who contravenes subsection 1 of the act commits an offence and is liable on summary to a fine not exceeding penalty units or a term of imprisonment not exceeding three months or to both. Mr Addi therefore cautioned the journalists not to sue misguided statements with the intention of putting persons with disability into public ridicule. He also appealed to all media practitioners in Ghana to portray persons with disabilities in a manner consistent with the UN Convention on the rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Disability Law, Act 715. However, media personnel should recognized the value existence and potential contribution being made by persons with disabilities to the overall wellbeing and diversity of their communities and promote their skills, merits and abilities and contributions to the workplace and the labour market rather than putting them into public ridicule. Mr Addi called on the government to fast track the passage of the Ghana Mental Health bill and the ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana to help promote their rights and also empower them in all spheres.

GBC END IA/