By Hannah Awadzi
Kumasi, July 25, GNA – The Presbyterian Church of Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to disability inclusion, with Rev. Andrew Shardow, National Director of Church Life and Nurture (CLAN), admonishing that neglecting persons with disabilities is a sin that must not be entertained.
Rev. Shardow told participants at a seminar that the “sin of neglect proceeds from a corrupted heart,” stressing that God expects Christians to be responsible for one another.
The seminar organized by the Department of Church Life and Nurture (CLAN) for members of the disability committee within the various presbyteries brought participants from all over the country to learn and discuss disability inclusion in the church
He urged pastors to embrace empathy and undergo training on disability issues, which he described as “technical matters that need to be learnt.”
He noted that although the Church formulated a disability policy five years ago, response and implementation have been slow.
He commended the Akuapem Presbytery for its extensive work in advancing disability advocacy and announced that the national committee on disability would be firmly established to strengthen efforts.
Rev Shardow said advocacy was a part of God’s call and urged the church especially the agents of the church to ensure that persons with disabilities were recognized as valid and valuable members of society and included in all aspects of church life
Mrs Gertrude Oforiwaa Fefoame, a disability rights advocate, and focal person for the committee encouraged participants to freely use the word “disability” without being overly cautious about terminology.
Mrs Fefoame , a blind person emphasized that every person must work towards a society where differences among people are seen as normal.
Rev. Ebenezer Asiedu, Chairperson of the National Committee on Disability and chair of the Akuapem Presbytery, reaffirmed the Church’s interest in disability issues. He admitted that implementation of the policy had been challenging but expressed optimism that after the seminar, progress would be smoother.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
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