Accra, Dec. 17, GNA – A manual for a barrier free built environment, dubbed: “Break The Barriers,” authored by Dr Augustina Naami of the Department of Social Works, University of Ghana, has been launched in Accra.
It is a guide to address environmental barriers for persons with mobility disability (for use by social workers, disability activists and the public) and seeks to deepen awareness about accessibility issues that persons with mobility disability encounter in their daily lives.
Apostle Eric Nyamekye, the Chairman of the Church of Pentecost, and the Reverend Professor Joseph Osafo of the Department of Psychology, University of Ghana jointly launched the manual, whilst Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, the Pro Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana chaired the occasion.
The research work was sponsored by the University of Ghana Building a New Generation of Academics in Africa (BANGA-Africa) Project with funding from the Carnegie Corporation of New York.
Dr Naami explained that the environment was a critical factor for participation for everyone, hence, the need for accessible transportation and built environment for persons with disability to enjoy their basic human rights and fundamental freedoms.
She said the study sought to understand the daily experiences of persons with mobility disability with physical and transportation barriers in Accra-Ghana.
Dr Naami noted that evidence from the study demonstrated the existence of barriers in the built environment and transportation, which impact negatively on the psychological and social lives of persons with mobility disability.
She called for the removal of identified barriers and to empower persons with disability for sustainable development.
Dr Naami said the manual would equip people with the tools to address the barriers and create opportunities for participation of persons with mobility disability to promote their overall wellbeing.
She said proceeds from the sale of the manual would be used to construct accessible ramps for two deprived schools and there was the need for Ghanaians to continue with the discourse to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
She expressed gratitude to Prof Yaa Ntiamoa-Baidu, the Project Director of the Carnegie “Next Generation of Academics in Africa” project at the University of Ghana, for her contributions towards the manual project.
Prof Amfo, who lauded Dr Naami for coming out with the manual, said the University’s policy was to ensure that all its buildings were disability friendly.
Prof Mavis Dako-Gyeke, the Head of Department of Social Works, University of Ghana, said the result of the study showed that access barriers impacted on the psychological and social lives of persons with mobility disability, as well as inclusion and their overall wellbeing and there wasthe need to address the barriers.
Rev Prof Osafo said the manual was a reflection of a deep seated conviction that Ghanaians would build an all-inclusive society, saying “living with disabilities is not living without ability”.
GNA