As a traveller and adventurer at heart, I can easily smile by imagining myself on a plane among foreigners travelling to a country I do not know. But the truth is, if one asked me to trade my Ghanaian origins for anything, I wouldn’t do it. In fact, I would refuse, while feeling slightly offended at the proposal.

Born in France, by Ghanaian parents, I grew up to know my Ghanaian roots and proud of where I come from, it is that same upbringing which appeases me when I think of home, but also that same source which today makes it impossible for me to rest witnessing injustice, ignorance, and irresponsible behaviour happening in the same country I grew up to love and honour.

In July 2015, I travelled to Ghana pushed by that strong desire to tell the story of those that are disabled in the country, who I witnessed are often stigmatised, ignored and repressed in a society that has its priorities misplaced. A society that dances when music is playing, laughs when the wind is blowing and waves their flags proudly, but yet totally fails to notice the disabled neighbour who is often silenced and oppressed due to stigma, discrimination and fear.

‘What is the place for those disabled in Ghana?’

In Ghana, there are numerous laws present to work in favour of persons with disabilities, but many of them are not implemented. The persons with Disability act 715 was passed into law in 2006, the sixth section of the Act states that  ‘the owner or occupier of a place to which the public has access shall provide appropriate facilities that make the place accessible to and available for use by a person with disability’, yet a number of buildings in the country are not disability friendly and do not provide appropriate access for those in wheelchairs.

Elvis Alikpui, a wheelchair user who was interviewed for my documentary Disability, Ghana and stigma told me that when taking transportation such as trotros or taxis he may often be asked to pay double fair for himself and the wheelchair,

”Just now if I'm travelling to my hometown or my house, I have to buy extra seat for my wheelchair, if the driver will [even] agree to take me. Else, you have to squeeze yourself, carry the wheelchair, and before you get to your destination, your dress will become dirty.” Elvis also mentioned that some drivers may refuse to take him altogether because of fears of getting entangled with the police and other forces while driving.

Despite section 4 of the Act which states that “an employer shall not discriminate against a prospective employee or an employee on the grounds of disability unless the disability is in respect of the relevant employment”, a number of persons with disabilities are still discriminated against when seeking employment only based on the grounds of their disabilities.

A few years ago, there were reports that a pregnant deaf woman in the Ashanti region had died because of wrong prescriptions and diagnosis, all due to miscommunication with the hearing staff. What a tragedy!

All these unimplemented laws mentioned, I believe is all due to lack of priorities in the country’s system or governance, but also due to a stigma that remains unchallenged by the people, in a society that deems itself proudly advanced.

Surely, what is gold or cocoa if the important minority is ignored? What are laws, if we do not change our old man’s mentality?  What progress have we really made as a people if we still attach cultural or traditional definitions to real life’s conditions?

As Nina, a blind young woman i met at the Accra rehab centre said, “ we should try to be open minded, not just stick to our own misconceptions, conceptions and misconceptions that ‘oh this is what we know about a person with disability so we shouldn’t allow the person,’ just give the person the chance, allow the person to go on, allow the person to do whatever he wants to do so far as it will bring development in the community.” 

It’s time to think again as people, it’s time to reset our minds and develop a new way of thinking, that’s the only way we can move forward and be great as a nation! it’s possible and it’s our responsibility to do so.

 

Myriam (AngelPeaceJoy)