The Gender Minister in a discussion with the NCCE Chairman
The School of Law, University of Ghana, in partnership with Open Society Initiative West Africa (OSIWA), on Monday opened a five-day residential course on Disability and Access to Justice for 40 participants.
The course is being attended by participants drawn from the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD), Civil Society Groups, as well as lecturers.
According to Dr K Appiagyei–Atuah, senior lecturer at School of Law, the course is intended to identify barriers to justice by Persons With Disability (PWD), among others.
According to him, disability issues cut across several disciplines, and any effort to address them through the creation of institutional awareness must be encouraged.
Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister for Gender Children and Social Protection, who paid glowing tribute to the School of Law for rolling out the course, said it is a step in the right direction which must be expanded in the future to include representatives from the police, health and judiciary.
“Ghana is party to the UNRPD, and is putting in place institutional measures to ensure that PWDs have access to the police, courts, tribunals, prisons,” she remarked.
The Minister said that her outfit would continue to collaborate with the state actors so that the right structures and facilities would be put in place in the delivery of justice.
“Disability is a cross-cutting issue, and for which these could be included in everyday discourse, including critical service providers and institutions such the School of Law, police, military and health training institutions.
Mawunyo Yakor-Dagbah, National Vice President of Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, bemoaned the lack of respect for PWDs, which according to her, has led to their marginalization.
“PWDs are like any other humans who need to be empowered with knowledge of their rights and legal awareness so that they can lodge complaints against abuse of rights to seek redress,” she added.
By Solomon Ofori