The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation says it is seeking inputs from members to press for a legislative instrument for the Disability Act.

The Disability Law, Act 715, passed in 2006, is aimed at ending discrimination of people with disability.

Since its passage over ten years ago, the legislative instrument to give it power for effective implementation has been non-existent.

The Federation says members who suffer various forms of abuse are unable to seek redress due to the absence such a legislation.

Members of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations from Ashanti, Brong Ahafo and the three Northern Regions were in the consultative meeting for the Northern Sector in Kumasi.

The consultative meeting is meant to collate views and inputs to push for the legislative instrument to make the Disability Act operational.

So what has been the impact in the absence of the LI.?

One of the leaders, Ibrahim Sani, explains that often they are unable to take up cases of discrimination and other activities against them, which is in contravention of the Act in court due to the absence of the LI.

“Assuming if we have taken institutions to court because it is not disability friendly, we are unable to do so because our lawyers often ask that because there is no LI, they are unable to pursue our cases. This is worrying. Now the LI will spell it out clearly so that we can have our way out,” he said.

"We are happy that we are in a process to put in our input,” he added.

Issues ranging from inclusive education of persons with disability, employment, the laws on the transportation, provisions at healthcare facilities to Persons With Disability (PWD) among others cannot be enforced appropriately.

Other issues include:

- Employment of persons with disability

- Public employment centers

- Promotion of employment of persons with disability 

- Posting, transfer and redeployment if person with disability

- Education of a child with the disability

- Facilities and equipment in education institutions

- Refusal of admission on account of disability

- Importation of non-conventional vehicles and it tax waivers

- Parking places for persons with disability

Ahead of the passage of a legislative instrument, the association has engaged a consultant to help amend the current Act.

Leadership has often insisted the Act must conform to international standards and laws under disability.

The amendment is meant to achieve that for a stronger process for the passage of the legislative instrument.

Mr Sani says an LI is long overdue in that it will bring a great relief to persons with disability.

“So it has been very difficult for us to take certain issues up. Sometimes our own people discourage us from asking where the LI is”.

At the consultative meeting, the group divided themselves into four groups, and each group took a particular area and made input appropriately and expectedly.

It will be forwarded to Parliament for onward consideration and work done on it.

According to them, If this is not done then the law “is like a toothless dog at the moment”.

The group will take views from elsewhere in the country to firm up with the processes for the institution of the LI.

President of the Federation in the Ashanti Region, Tabi Amponsah Alfred, says the move will also ensure equitable and effective participation and the inclusion of physically challenged persons in the Ghanaian society.