A group of persons with physical disabilities are unhappy with President Akufo-Addo over what they say are derogatory remarks used by the President that casts them in a negative light.
The President is reported in sections of the media to have said at the New Patriotic Party’s final rally ahead of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election that, “We came to fix Ghana, and in these two years, it is only those who are blind or deaf who are not aware that indeed we have done something.”
A statement issued by the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD)-Ashanti Region says this is not the first time the President has used such a comment.
“This is particularly worrying to the GFD-Ashanti because it is the second time in less than three months that a statement as derogatory as this is attributed to the president of the nation. In November last year, the president was also reported by a section of the media to have said, the things my opponents say sometimes make me wonder if they are blind or deaf. They rain insults on me for doing nothing” the statement said.
GFD-Ashanti condemned the remarks and called for a retraction and an apology by the President. They say this action by the President would assuage the speech and visually impaired in the country.
They also asked well-meaning Ghanaians to refrain from using language that has negative connotations for Persons with Disabilities.
Please read the full statement below:
GHANA FEDERATION OF DISABILITY ORGANISATIONS (ASHANTI REGION) UNHAPPY
WITH THE PRESIDENT’S REMARKS ABOUT THE BLIND AND DEAF
The attention of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD)- Ashanti region, has been drawn to a recent comment passed by the President, His Excellency Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, which has the potential to portray the ‘blind’ and ‘deaf’ people in a negative light.
The President is reported in sections of the media to have said at the New Patriotic Party’s final rally ahead of the Ayawaso West Wuogon Constituency by-election that, “We came to fix Ghana, and in these two years, it is only those who are blind or deaf who are not aware that indeed we have done something.”
This is particularly worrying to the GFD-Ashanti because it is the second time in less than three months that a statement as derogatory as this is attributed to the president of the nation. In November last year, the president was also reported by a section of the media to have said, “the things my opponents say sometimes make me wonder if they are blind or deaf. They rain insults on me for doing nothing.”
GFD-Ashanti first of all wants to utterly condemn the above remarks, call for a retraction of them by the president, along with an APOLOGY for the visually and speech impaired in the country as well as the disability community at large.
It is important to note that our mother association- the GFD (national) has already issued a press statement, where in, it was fully indicated what positive works the president and his government had done for the disability community; which includes among others, initiating an inclusive procurement policy that would promote the economic wellbeing of PWDs. It is in this light, that we want to put across that as much as the economic well-being of PWDs matter, so do their emotional and psychological wellbeing, hence, the call by GFD-Ashanti for a retraction and an apology from the president.
We would like to also use this opportunity to remind all well-meaning Ghanaians to refrain from such language which has a negative connotation for all PWDs.
Thanks.
Pls call these contacts.
Prince Debrah
President
GFD-Kumasi metro.
0244778061
Mr Alfred Tabi Ampongsah .
President Ashanti Region (GFD).
0246679397 .
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