When Usain Bolt gets off his block, there are two things he displays – power and speed. There is power on his face, as he puffs air for invigoration; there is power in his arms, as he swings them in flight, and there is power in his legs, as he strides home swiftly.
These physical exhibits may not be seen of persons with disability (PWDs) in a race. So when a person with disability declares to run with the speed of light, then something more spectacular than what Usain Bolt displays, is in the offing.
That is exactly the pledge of the Convention People’s Party (CPP) when it is elected into office and under the presidency of Ivor Kobina Greenstreet.
In the manifesto of the CPP for the 2016 election campaign, which was launched recently, the party promises that under the presidency of its physically-challenged flag bearer, it will implement the Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) “with the speed of light”.
It sounds ironical, overly ambitious and near impossibility for a person with disability to run with the speed of light. But in Candidate Greenstreet, Ghanaians can find a very determined, self-motivated, visionary, competent and courageous leader who is not limited by his wheelchair to deliver on that promise.
What the CPP seeks to do
The CPP manifesto, dubbed Apam Foforo, spells out, generally, the policies and programmes the party seeks to implement when elected into office.
Under its social policy interventions, the CPP pledges to initiate measures to give full effect and impetus to the Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
That is very refreshing news. After 10 years of passing the law, the nation has not made any significant move towards addressing the critical needs of persons with disability as specified in the Act.
Section 6 of the Act, for instance, mandates owners and occupiers of public places to “provide appropriate facilities that make the place accessible to and available for use by a person with disability”.
Unfortunately, after a 10-year moratorium to implement this provision of the Act, many owners and occupiers of public places, including government establishments, have not complied with the law.
What is even more disheartening is the fact that many public places that were, or are being constructed after the passage of the Act, have not complied with this provision.
Giving full effect and impetus to the Act may come with the application of sanctions against offenders of Act 715.
Section 8 provides that any person who contravenes this and other provisions commits an offence and is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding fifty penalty units or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding 3 months or to both.
Other commitments
In line with provisions of the Act, the CPP promises to enhance and adequately fund the National Council of Persons With Disability; and provide free education to PWDs at public institutions, as well as the required resources, materials and facilities to ensure unhindered access and facilitate their education.
Furthermore, the CPP pledges to provide free healthcare for PWDs in respect of certain unspecified health conditions under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); enact a legislation to ensure that all public employers ensure that at least five per cent of their workforce are PWDs, while giving tax incentives to private employers to also ensure that at least five per cent of their workforce are PWDs, and increase the disability Common Fund allocation to five per cent and ensure its timely payment, and make transportation progressively free for PWDs
It is very assuring that the CPP has pledged its commitment to implement the law with a sense of urgency.
But beyond the letter of the law, there are two compelling reasons for everyone to take the Persons With Disability Act very seriously and join forces with the CPP for its speedy implementation.
First, PWDs constitute a sizable number of every population. According to the United Nations, PWDs constitute 10 per cent of the population of every country.
That means, given Ghana’s population of about 25 million, there are about 2.5 million PWDs in Ghana. By further extension, it means there are about 1.4 million PWDs on the voters register, given a voter population of about 14 million.
This is not a figure any political party can joke with in any election. So the welfare and interests of PWDs should not be matters of joke for any government.
The second compelling reason is the unpredictability of disability. When you are born without any deformity or disability, just give thanks to God.
But that is no reason for indifference because disability, like death, can strike anytime. Indeed, by the end of today, many hitherto able-bodied persons would have become PWDs through various ways they never imagined.
Disability has no regard for social status, education background, wealth, religious faith, gender or age, and it strikes without notice. That is why it is said that “Disability is anyone’s lot anytime”.
Candidate Greenstreet may be very conscious about this fact. He was not born a disabled person. His disability was as a result of road traffic accident.
Perhaps, that underlines the commitment of the CPP to implement the Persons With Disability Act “with the speed of light” when elected into office.
While commending the CPP for that bold pledge, it is appropriate to call on all Ghanaians to demand the full implementation of the Act. If we fail to act, individually and collectively, we may wake up one day to find ourselves among the ranks of PWDs with all the challenges they face. And there may be nobody to champion our cause.
On the other hand, if we help build a better world for PWDs today, even if disability strikes without notice tomorrow, we would have helped build a better world to enjoy life as PWD. So the time to act is now!
By Kofi Yeboah, a journalist
Email: kofiyebo@yahoo.com
