By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, July 25, GNA – Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Founder and Executive Director of the Inclusive Family Alliance, has urged Ghanaians to end superstition and stigma surrounding disability.
She said harmful beliefs linking disability to bad omens continued to fuel discrimination and social exclusion.
Mrs Awadzi made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency in Accra.
She said disability was not a curse and could affect anyone.
“So as a society, we need to change our attitude towards Persons with Disabilities because you do not know the next step that will make you a Person with Disability,” she said.
Mrs Awadzi said changing public attitudes was essential to promoting inclusion and improving opportunities for persons with disabilities.
“Taking out superstition is the first step. When attitudes change, policies and opportunities will follow,” she said.
Mrs Awadzi said every progressive society put in place systems and programmes to support persons with disabilities.
She urged Ghanaians to view inclusion as a shared responsibility.
Mrs Awadzi said the Inclusive Family Alliance worked with institutions, organisations and communities to promote positive attitudes towards disability.
She said the organisation also supported parents of children with disabilities by providing information and creating spaces where families could seek support without fear of stigma.
“One of the things that we do is get people to change how they think about disability. If you do not understand, ask. Don’t assume,” she said.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey
Reporter: Priscilla Oye Ofori