MA Counselling students of the Centre for Aging Studies at the University of Ghana embarked on a sensitization campaign at Madina Market on Saturday to highlight the plight of persons with disabilities.

The programme, led by renowned academic Professor Augustina Naami of the Department of Social Work, brought together over 26 participants..

Armed with placards, the students educated market women, vendors, and pedestrians about the challenges faced by persons with disabilities while promoting inclusivity.

The campaign, which formed part of the students’ project work, aimed to raise awareness about social issues, challenge negative attitudes, and break stereotypes about disability.

By engaging directly with traders and the public, the students sought to foster a more supportive environment for persons with disabilities.

In Ghana, people with disabilities face multiple barriers, including limited access to education, employment, and healthcare, alongside widespread negative perceptions.

The students’ outreach was designed not only to promote understanding and acceptance but also to draw the government’s attention to the urgency of the situation.

Professor Naami, speaking to journalists after the exercise, stressed that the plight of persons with disabilities in Ghana has long been neglected, exposing them to daily hardships.

She lamented that much of the country’s infrastructure is not disability-friendly, creating obstacles in education, employment, and access to public spaces.

She therefore called for an amendment to the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which provides a legal framework for the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities, covering areas such as employment, education, healthcare, and access to public services and buildings.

While the Act mandates public buildings and services to be accessible, Prof. Naami said reality falls far short of the law’s intent, noting that “all the streets in Ghana, bus stops, and offices are not disability-friendly.”

A physically challenged academic herself, Prof. Naami challenged the notion that disability should be a barrier to achievement, saying her own career as an Associate Professor is proof otherwise.

She pointed out that persons with disabilities must navigate inaccessible roads, open gutters, obstructed sidewalks, and poorly designed public facilities.

The sensitization at Madina Market formed part of final-year students’ project requirements to research, understand, and propose solutions to the barriers that persons with disabilities face.

Research shows that these barriers limit full and effective participation in society. The students believe that awareness campaigns like this one are crucial steps toward change.