27-01-2012
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| PWDs embarking on a route march with placards |
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| Mr Akalga addressing the gathering with the aid of the braille |
Narration: The Chairman, Bongo branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, Samuel Akalga has cautioned media practitioners against the use of terminologies that that tend to put person with disability under public ridicule. According to him, it is disheartening to hear people referring to persons with disabilities as cripple, blind or handicapped. Such names, he lamented are considered derogatory, demeaning and unacceptable and should be avoided. Mr. Akalga who was speaking at the international day of the disabled held in Bongo proposed that the media when reporting on disability issues should rather focus on areas that affect their daily lives. Moreover, it is important for media practitioners to consider the impact that words may have both on the general public and on the disability community. Correspondent Isaac Asare has filed this report for Radio Ghana.
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| A cross section of the physically challenged |
The day which was in commemoration of last year’s International Day of Persons with Disability was marked with a float through the street of Bongo-Soe with members holding placards with inscriptions some of which read: “Be mindful of derogatory words against persons with disability”, “Accessibility is still a barrier to PWDs both public and private”, and “MMDAs respect the role of the fund management committees” among others. The day was marked on the theme: “Together for a better world for all, including persons with disabilities in development”. Mr. Akalga said considering the invaluable role the media play in advancing the cause of persons with disability, it also behoves them to portray persons with disabilities as providers of expertise, services and assistance. This, he explained, will not only promote an equal and socially inclusive society but also contribute in breaking through the stereotype of presenting them as recipients of charity, services and goodwill. To him, a socially inclusive society is where all people feel valued, their differences are respected and their basic needs are met so that they can live in dignity. On the other hand, the exclusion of any individual from society affects not only the person but also the socio-economic development of their entire community. Touching on government’s 2 percent allocation of the District Assembly’s Common Fund which is meant to support and carry out activities and programmes for persons with disability, Mr Akalga complained that authorities in charge in the disbursement of the fund sometimes make it difficult for them to access the fund with ease. He said quite apart from that the remaining 98 percent is not made to benefit them though they are part of society. According to him, the proposed construction of a resource centre for the federation which has been on the drawing board for long and had been well debated for in the assembly session in 2006 ,had since not seen the light of day and charged the authorities concern to work towards its realisation. In an interview with Radio Ghana, the District Secretary of the Federation, James Amurugo said Persons with disabilities are entitled to exercise their civil, political, social, economic and cultural rights on an equal basis with others and therefore called on Ghanaians to ensure that challenges affecting persons with disability are resolved to make them feel comfortable and part of the society. He denounced public perception that disability is a curse, saying all individuals one way or the other has a level of disability. Mr. Amurugo however emphasized the role of the media is a shaping those perceptions and advised the public to avoid discrimination of all forms to promote a well inclusive society. On the usage of negative terminologies on persons with disability, Mr. Amurugo charged NGO’s and organizations to constantly hold advocacy training workshops to educate the media on the right terminologies to use when reporting on issues affecting the physically challenged.
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