Provide equal opportunities to disabled children — Prof. Yankah

The Minister of State in charge of Tertiary Education, Professor Kwesi Yankah, has called on parents to provide equal opportunities for their disabled children to enable them to realise their full potential.

According to him, it was unacceptable and wrong for parents who gave birth to children with disabilities to deny them opportunities that would transform them to become responsible in society.

He said “such children are not condemned but if supported and encouraged, they could come out of their shells to engage in activities that would be useful to society”, adding that such children had talents which if well harnessed, would be beneficial to their families and the nation as a whole.

Lunch with PWDs

Prof. Yankah was speaking at a ceremony during which he feted about 400 Persons with Disability (PWDs) in the Agona East District in the Central Region.
He wined and dined with them and also presented items to them.

The well-attended event was graced by Humble International Band, a Tema-based band made up of PWDs who thrilled the participants with both Ghanaian and foreign music to the admiration of all.

He mentioned that it was worrying that disabled children were kept at home and denied the opportunity of acquiring formal education and skills which would change their lives in future.

World has changed

Prof. Yankah noted that the world had changed because the era where PWDs were denied opportunities was over, stressing that in the advanced world, such people were given recognition and supported to be relevant in society.

He cautioned against stigmatisation of PWDs since such situations prevented them from pursuing their aspirations in life, indicating that “people with disabilities can only achieve their dreams if they are made to feel part of society”.

He further entreated them to make good use of the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) given to them either in the form of cash or working tools to better their lives.

The Agona West Municipal Social Welfare and Community Development Officer, Mr Robert Baah, implored the PWDs to make good use of government interventions rolled out to improve their living standards.

He explained that the government was poised to introduce programmes aimed at taking PWDs off the streets.