Adopt positive mindset to achieve goals in life
The Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Mrs Cynthia Morrison, has encouraged persons with disabilities to adopt a positive mindset to achieve thier goals in life.
She said the negative attitude from society and discriminatory practices against them should not deter or hinder them from pursuing their aspirations in life.
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Rather, she challenged them to adopt the “I can do spirit” and prove their critics wrong by taking advantage of the numerous opportunities that exist to enhance their living conditions.
The minister made the statement in a speech read on her behalf by the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) of the Akuapem North Municipal Assembly , Mr Dennis Aboagye, at the launch of the 2018 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IPDP) at the Akropong School for the blind in the Eastern Region.
Launch
The IDPD is an international observance day that was setup in 1992 and is celebrated annually on 3rd December by member countries of the United Nations.
The theme for this year’s celebration is, “empowering persons with disabilities and ensuring inclusiveness and equality.”
The objective of the celebrations is to promote the rights and well-being of persons with disabilities in all spheres of the society.
It is also targeted at raising the awareness of the increasing difficulties that persons with disabilities go through in all facets of life.
In Ghana, the event was organised by the National Council of Persons with Disability (NCPD) under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
Government Commitment
According to Mrs Morrison, government remained focused in its commitment to enhance the living conditions of PWDs, pointing out that the establishment of a disability fund, as well as the enforcement of laws to ensure that buildings and other facilities were disability-friendly, were among some initiatives government was focusing on to enhance the living conditions of PWDs.
Appeal
The Executive Director of the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, Mr Newton Katseku, called on the government to intensify efforts to deal with discrimination against PWDs in the country.
He also called on the government to re evaluate the current Affirmative Action Bill to include measures on how women with disabilities could be supported with resources to enable them to play vital roles in the development of the nation.
According to the Executive Director of NCPD, Mr Kwamena Dadzie-Dennis, activities lined up for the celebration in Ghana include workshops, seminars, health screening and sporting events, to be held in all metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies nationwide.
In climaxing the celebration, a national durbar would be organised at the State House in Accra on December 3.
He called for the public’s massive involvement in making the celebration a success.
