Women with disability call for their inclusion in the Affirmative Action Bill

By Alex Agyekum, GNA

Amasaman (GAR), March 12, GNA - Ghana Federation of Disability Organization (GFD) has called on government to make People With Disability (PWDs) a component part of the affirmative action bill which seeks to address the social and political needs of women amongst others.

Ms Alice Appiah, Gender Representative of GFD, made the call in a speech at the Ga West Municipal Assembly hall during the International Women’s Day celebration.

The event was attended by over 500 PWDs at Amasaman.

She said women are often not given due recognition in all aspects of national life.

Ms Appiah said women and girls with disabilities face worse conditions and are not accorded dignity and respect; and they are abused with impunity.

She said women and girls with disabilities suffer extreme poverty and deprivation and majority of them live in deplorable conditions.

Ms Appiah said in some cases their own families deny them the needed resources to enable them to explore their potentials whiles others are denied education.

She said such conditions expose women and girls with disabilities to high risks including early parenting with no responsible partners to support them; lack access to health care and endangering their lives especially during pregnancy.

She said women and girls with disabilities like all citizens have their natural and constitutional rights to be respected and given the opportunity to harness their potential to be useful and productive citizens.

Ms Appiah appealed to the government to expand access of social intervention programmes such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), and Microfinance and Small Loans Scheme (MASLOC) to include people with disability as part of the effort to reduce poverty levels among women and girls with disabilities.

GNA

Read Full Story