Appoint PWDs as DCEs - Society urges President

The Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD) has called on the President, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, to consider all the people living with disability (PWDs) who have applied for the positions of district chief executives in the country.

The group was of the view that appointing people with disability to such positions would demonstrate the government’s commitment of creating an enabling environment for all to contribute their quota to national development.

Statement

In a statement issued and signed by the president of the society, Rev. John Mefful, out of the 1,300 applicants who applied for the 216 metropolitan, municipal and district chief executive(MMDCEs) positions nationwide, only four of them were physically challenged.

These were Messrs Kwaku Ntim Twumasi for Ejisu, Isaac Nana Kojo Antwi for Twifu Atti-Morkwa; Simon Yaw Japaah for Pru District and Martin Obeng for Sunyani West.

Qualifications

According to Rev. Mefful, checks by the society revealed that all the applicants were dyed-in-the wool loyalists of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) “who have demonstrable competence and exceptional leadership skills.”

He was of the view that when given the opportunity to serve, “these individuals will perform satisfactorily to the admiration of Ghanaians and to the glory of the Nana Addo-led administration.”

“It is our humble plea that the President nominates all the four (4) physically challenged individuals to serve in the respective MMDCEs vacancies they have applied for.

“This, we believe, would not be too much to desire, particularly at this point in our national life when conscious efforts are being made to encourage and create an enabling environment for persons living with disabilities to bring their expertise to bear in building this nation,” he stated.

Appreciation

The group also commended the President for nominating one of them as the Regional Minister of Oti.

According to them, the appointment of Dr Joshua Makubu, a physically challenged individual as Oti Regional Minister “goes to demonstrate the readiness of the President to form an all-inclusive government, a development we appreciate and applaud”.