Include PWDs in development agenda

By Dr Kofi AMPONSAH-BEDIAKO

One group of people who are often neglected in society is Persons With Disability (PWDs).

They are often neglected in a manner that shows that society does not care much about them.

It is not that society does not care about the needs of such people.

Rather, we seem not to care much about showing care or concern for them.

When it comes to persons who must be assisted with wheelchair to enable them walk well and participate in deliberations, we seem not pay much attention to their needs

A number of reasons account for this.  

In the first place, there are many demands that must be met in society.

For this reason, certain demands are satisfied at the expense of others.

This is unfortunate and also unfair but this is what happens in many places in the world.

In countries where there is deliberate policy on persons with disabilities, conscious efforts are made to implement policies that tend to bring everybody on board, whether they are disabled or not.

This is what brings in all Inclusiveness.

Under the policy of all-inclusiveness, all groups of people are given their fair share of the National cake.

This makes everybody happy even though no group of people can be fully satisfied. 

In Ghana today we have the Ghana Federation of Disability.

It is an umbrella body that comprises different groups of people with various forms of disability.

This means that they must be a deliberate effort to address the needs and concerns of such unfortunate people.

No society can fully provide for all the needs of its people.

However, societies what to show concern and care for the less privilege.

If this is done we will be seen as being fair to all sections of society.    

Political parties are entities that give birth to Governments

.For this reason, it will be good if political parties can indicate in their manifesto that they have a policy on disability.

Such a policy must be implemented effectively when they come to power.

If this can be done, it will go a long way to boost the confidence of the electorate.

National economic development must include every person, whether disabled or not.

People have various talents and skills which they can use for the development of the country.

It is for this reason that the must be a policy on persons with disability. Some of these persons can be marvelous when it comes to development in various sectors of the economy.

This is why everyone must be included in National development .

If this is done, the sky will be the limit and National development can go very high and also be beneficial to everyone in the country.