Disabled persons in Ghana continue to experience various forms of discrimination and social exclusion. These occur despite the fact that there are several anti-discriminatory laws that are meant to protect the rights of disabled people and facilitate their participation in mainstream social, political and economic activities.
As it is, the laws have not completely eroded the discrimination and in some instances, appear to have even institutionalised the discrimination that disabled people experience. It is important that the state pays more attention to amending aspects of these laws and putting them into practice (Ocran, 2019).
According to data from the World Health Organisation (WHO), 15% of the world’s population, representing some 1billion people suffer one form of disability. Out of this number, 80% are found in developing countries.
In Ghana, data from the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) shows that 8% of Ghana’s population representing some 2.4million persons have some form of disability as compared to 3% in 2010. It is sad to note that with this number and in a democratic country such as ours which prides itself on respect for the fundamental human rights of persons, no strategy or laws exist to ensure the employment of PWDs despite their academic heights, and success or qualifications.
In simple terms, our society does not seem to consider PWDs as productive components of mainstream society. It is time to change this narrative.
CURRENT STATE OF PWDS IN GHANA
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