By Erica Apeatua Addo
Tamso (W/R), Oct 23, GNA-Mr. George Kakra Ussher, President of the Western Regional branch of the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) has called on Ghanaians to recognise and respect their language.
He said they should also support policies that guaranteed sign language services in schools, hospitals, courts, workplaces, and public institutions.
Mr. Ussher made the call at the celebration of this year’s International Week of the Deaf (IWD) held at the Tamso Community Centre in Tarkwa, in the Western Region.
He said this year’s event, on the theme “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights” reminded them that sign language was the mother tongue of the deaf and hard-of-hearing persons.
He said without recognition, promotion, and investment in sign language, the rights of deaf people could not be fully realized.
He added: “True equality requires language access, for it is through communication that we exercise education, justice, work, and participation in society.”
Mr. Ussher implored Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Chief Executives (MMDCE’s) as well as other partners who attended the programme to support the deaf community.
He expressed his sincerest gratitude to the government for its ongoing commitment to disability inclusion, and again acknowledged the invaluable contributions of their chiefs, traditional councils, municipal and district leaders.
The President of the Western Regional Branch of the GNAD suggested that they should cooperate with all stakeholders to ensure that the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s), to be achieved by 2030, benefited deaf people in Ghana and worldwide.
Mr Kwame Prempeh, Superintendent -Economic Development and Livelihood Restoration, AngloGold Ashanti Iduapriem Mine, said they believe that sustainable development could be achieved when everyone-regardless of ability was given the opportunity to contribute meaningfully.
He gave an assurance of the mining company’s commitment to supporting initiatives that fostered inclusivity, diversity, and employment within their host communities and the Tarkwa Nsuaem municipality.
“Today’s celebration is therefore an important opportunity for all of us to reflect, learn and take action towards building a society where barriers are removed and opportunities are shared equally,” Mr. Prempeh said
He praised the leadership of the Tarkwa Nsuaem Association of the Deaf for their dedication and advocacy in advancing inclusivity and creating spaces where everyone could thrive.
Mr. Wisdom Bakuyeya, the Municipal Social Welfare Officer for Tarkwa Nsuaem, emphasised that their mission was to build an inclusive community with equal access to education, employment, and social opportunities.
Mr. Daniel Kwame Okyere, the Tarkwa Nsuaem Municipal Chairman of Ghana Federation of the Disabled (GFD), who chaired the function entreated institutions to adopt inclusive recruitment strategies that would benefit Persons with Disabilities, including the deaf.
The IWD observed on October 3 every year, was first established in 1958 at a World Federation of the Deaf (WFD) conference in Rome, Italy.
Since, then, it has served as a platform to advocate for the rights of deaf people worldwide by fighting against communication barriers, stigma, and discrimination rooted in misconception about disability.
In Ghana, the GNAD, as a proud member of the WFD, has worked tireless with the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection and other partners to advance the rights of deaf people.
Together, they have raised awareness about the importance of access to education, employment opportunities, and sign language interpretation services.
Yet, their journey continues, and the path ahead demands bold action, strong commitment, and meaningful collaboration with the Government and other stakeholders.
The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), reinforced by the Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), clearly states that persons with disabilities have the right to accessibility and full inclusion in society.
However, implementation across Africa-including Ghana still lagged global standards.
GNA
Edited by Justina Paaga/Benjamin Mensah