The flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), John Mahama has promised to review the Disability Act to create an equitable environment for persons with disability.
John Mahama says his government if elected into office, will ensure that people with disabilities have the amenities to thrive in Ghana like every other person.
“It is time to review the Disability Act, it was passed in 2006 and so we need to look at the Disability Act, look at the gaps in implementation.
“For instance, we presented this electronic wheelchair to our brother but there’s no way he could have climbed the stairs to shake my hands.
“And yet the Disability Act says that all public facilities must be made disability-friendly and must be accessible to persons with disability and so we need to review that Act and make sure that we enforce the provisions of the Act so that they also can live a comfortable life,” he said on January 18, 2024.
Mr Mahama made the promise during a town hall meeting with representatives of PWDs to contribute to the formulation of the NDC’s 2024 manifesto.
The former President expressed worry about a delay in implementation after a participant in a wheelchair was unable to access the platform at the town hall.
He stressed that he could review the Act if the NDC is given the political mandate in the 2024 Elections.
Again, he added that the inconsistent allocation of the Common Fund to people with disability has pushed some members of the group into poverty and that the NDC plans to rectify this situation if elected into power.
Mr Mahama believes the present Act has done little to ease the burden on persons with disability.
“If we say we are suffering then our brothers and sisters are suffering 10 times more than us.
“The District Assemblies Common Fund that we put aside a percentage to cater for their needs in their various districts, is not coming and aside from that the NPP administration has reduced the Common Fund from 7% to 5%, so the amount of money that they are entitled to be a percentage of the Common Funds.
“And so if you reduce it from 7% to 5% then it means the amount of money they are getting is less, and so aside from the fact that the money is less, the frequency, it is not coming.”
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