Worthy initiative from Amoako-Atta

One charitable action undertaken by the National Democratic Congress (NDC) last year was the translation of the party’s manifesto into braille.

At the function to ‘outdoor’ the document, the physically and mentally challenged who attended the ceremony felt elated. They were satisfied that there was a conscious effort to promote social inclusiveness.

The only snag was that the items presented were acquired from public funds, at the expense of taxpayers but to the benefit of a political party. But it was worthwhile that the persons with disability (PWDs) were made to feel a sense of belonging.

It is imperative to draw attention to the need for us to give meaning to policies and programmes that are intended to give meaning to our motto of freedom and justice. In this country, there are rules and regulations which require that a certain percentage of people employed in the formal sector must be physically challenged. But the rules are more despised than honoured. That is why we have to listen and support the Minister for Roads and Highways, Mr Akwasi Amoako-Atta, to succeed in accomplishing a mission to provide PWDs with a means of dignified economic livelihood.

At his vetting, he indicated that he would pursue an agenda to ensure that most of the tollbooths on our highways are operated by competent and qualified PWDs. He went further to suggest that even where such booths were contracted to individuals to manage, there must be a minimum of 50 per cent of the employees being PWDs. This is not just a noble mission but a functional one to give meaning to ensuring that the dignity of these people is maintained.

The fact is that most of the time there is dissonance between policy and action. While there are laws which frown upon begging in the open, many of our disabled citizens are disregarded when it comes to employment, compelling them to sacrifice their dignity by surrendering to the necessity to live by resorting to begging.

The nature of the job of collecting road tolls is such that there is minimum movement. That means that very little stress will be imposed on the physically challenged in the discharge of their duties. More important there are PWDs all over the place that they would not have to travel far to reach their duty posts.

Beyond everything, such forms of gainful employment would help in removing those who are in the streets begging. The policy would also free those children who often accompany such persons in seeking alms. It will not only promote the dignity of the individuals concerned but equally assure them of regular incomes. They can thus plan for their lives more meaningfully.

Article 36(1) of the 1992 Constitution of the Republic of Ghana provides that,” The State shall take all necessary action to ensure that the national economy is managed in such a manner as to maximise the rate of economic development and to secure the maximum welfare, freedom and happiness of every person in Ghana and to provide adequate means of livelihood and suitable employment and public assistance to the needy.”  This is the king of constitutional obligation that Mr Amoako-Atta seeks to cure with his mission to cede road tolls collection to the PWDs.

The Constitution further provides under Article 36(2) (e ) that ,” The State shall, in particular take all necessary steps to establish a sound and healthy economy whose underlying principles shall include the recognition that the most secure democracy is the one that assures the basic necessities of life for its people as a fundamental duty.”

These provisions constitute the thrust of the agenda of Mr Amoako-Atta, to bring dignity and smiles to the physically disabled that would be offered the opportunity to manage our road tolls. Therefore, it is imperative for the associations of the disabled to rally behind him to enable him push through regulations and policies that would concretely provide some of our disabled colleagues, particularly those who would be fortunate to be living in proximity to road toll facilities, with dignified and respectable economic livelihood.

The determination to give employment to PWDs to enable them to live worthy lives is not only a legal requirement. More important it would point to our readiness to give meaning to legality and constitutional provisions and prove that there is congruence between policy and action. It will serve as a worthy beginning of giving meaning to the concept of social inclusiveness.     

 The mission must be successful so that Mr Amoako-Atta can confidently answer Dr Martin Luther King who says that life’s most persistent and urgent question is what you are doing for others.