|
International
|
Click here to see the documentary "In Their Own Words: The Real Story of Disability In Ghana" P.O. Box KF 2870, Koforidua, Eastern Region, Ghana, Final report to Disability Media Inc ‘In Their Own Words’ by the Eastern Disability Network and The National Bureau for Students with Disabilities. Dear Disability Media Inc, Please find enclosed a copy of the DVD you kindly funded, entitled ‘IN THEIR OWN WORDS: The real story of disability in Ghana.’ As discussed we will post you a final, printed copy of the DVD once we have received them from the printers. We will email you once we have them to enquire as to how many copies your organisation would like. As we could not capture everybody’s story in full in the DVD we have enclosed some more information about the individuals and groups featured. Some of the information are fuller exerts from transcripts from the interviews we undertook; others are summaries of issues important to the individuals. We hope you will find this additional information of interest. THE EASTERN DISABILITY NETWORK (EDIN): EDIN was formed in 2006 to champion the cause of equal opportunities for persons with disabilities in the Eastern region of Ghana. During the making of the DVD, it became apparent that many of the persons asked had not heard of the Disability Act (passed in Ghana in 2006), and were not aware of their rights. Danso Larbi, the Executive Secretary, is now working to translate the act into the local dialect, Twi and hopes to run a series of workshops in the region to increase awareness of the act. EDIN is also running a one day Advocacy Workshop at the end of June to bring together the groups of EDIN to share ideas and plan further advocacy campaigns throughout the region. The workshop will include speakers from the media commission and local government personnel. THE NATIONAL BUREAU FOR STUDENTS WITH DISABILITIES (NBSD): NBSD’s aim is to empower people with disabilities through education and vocational skills training, to enable them to live independently. NBSD is currently working with the Rotary Club in Koforidua, Eastern region and Rotary Clubs in the UK to fundraise for a vocational skills training workshop to be built in the region. This workshop would train PWDs in batik, tie and dye and computer skills. Research for the need for this workshop indicated that 43 % of PWDs in the region are living off less than $1 a day. George Sarpong, the executive secretary of the NBSD, formed the NGO after he recognized that many children with disabilities were not going to school. He wanted to start an NGO to enable PWDs to be recognized in the community. He stated that people thought ‘begging for alms was our job, rather than going to school to advance our social and economic ability’. NEEDY ELEVATION CRUSADERS: Abeng Osare, Founder “I was a driver and I had a lorry accident and was hopsitalised at Korle Bu hospital in 1993. I had my arm amputated. I advised others in hospital that becoming a disabled person doesn’t mean your life has come to an end. For God knows the purpose of making you a disabled person. I was discharged and went to live with my brother in Tema. I became worried after leaving hospital. When I came home I couldn’t go out as I used to so I attempted to commit suicide by hanging myself. I did it twice and in all my brother came to save me. Afterwards they advised me to refrain from such acts. They encouraged me to have a life and that they will help me in all that I do. I traveled to Akyem Sekyere to visit my brother there. I saw a physically challenged person using a dilapidated wheelchair I inquired why he was using such a wheelchair. I then decided to form an NGO to help the disadvantaged. The NGO has started a rehabilitation centre for PWDs, teaching sewing skills and we’d also like to start batik, tie and dye.” GHANA FEDERATION OF THE DISABLED. ATIWA DISTRICT Chairman, Sekyere Boateng “I found out that there are so many people with disabilities in this area going about doing nothing, some begging for help. Some idling about. So I thought it wise to bring all these people together to have something to do, so that those idle hands and brains as well as legs may find something to do. Those begging will stop degrading themselves and have something, they will be respected and recognized in their community. I made an announcement in all the communities to bring these people together, and then they nominated me as chairman. We then decided to start a project to help those who are not supported by their families. So then these people can have something to cater for them. I also found out that some of the people with disabilities were and are still not able to marry and therefore will not have children to support them in the future. So we decided to go into poultry farming because every 5-6 weeks you could sell the birds. The eggs can also be sold to generate income and at the same time create employment for some of the people with disabilities.” ABILITY BIKES: David Brannigan “Ability Bikes is a co-operative bicycle company that is run by physically challenged people. The whole concept of Ability Bikes started about one year ago in some conversations between a prominent physically challenged person in Koforidua, Emmanuel Kofi Addua, and my organisation Bikes Not Bombs. The original idea was that we set up an independent bicycle business run by a majority of physically challenged people and that that business will gradually pay back start up costs and then have full independence and worker ownership of the business. So that was really a lofty goal. We came to Ghana in May of 2008 and we met with GSPD and made an original selection of 12 individuals that were interested. This is an income generation project but it goes a step further. It offers employment but also potential business ownership, which I think really is a big concept. It’s not something that I think is very common. So we have 12 people who we trained in basic bicycle mechanics, and we made a selection of 6 people who were extraordinarily committed and had the skills to fix the bikes and to run the business. And then since October 2008 we’ve been working together in our workshop.” Together we talked about the name for this business, we had a number of names that we were considering but then we finally selected Ability Bikes. I think that that name really encompasses the attitude that we have here, that PCP have the ability to do a tremendous amount and this business is a public statement of that. Maud Akuffo Maud works as an administrator at Ability Bikes and is a member of the local GSPD wheelchair basketball team. “Ability bikes has helped me a lot because I finished school and stayed in the house for even one and a half year without doing anything. I wrote so many applications to many companies but none of them called me… So now I’m working with ability bikes, so I am an administrator and a sales girl, I do a lot of work, a lot of work.” Sule Bukari Sule works as a bicycle mechanic at Ability Bikes and also coaches the GSPD wheelchair basketball team at Jackson Park, Koforidua, when the head coach is not available. GSPD is present in all 10 regions of Ghana with regional teams and their inter-regional competitions allow the groups to travel and network with other groups during tournaments. Wheelchair basketball enhances individuals’ esteem, fitness and social opportunities. GSPD recently hosted a VSO volunteer who traveled around all regions in Ghana to categorize all players in line with professional standards to develop the sport in Ghana. See: www.gspdsportswing.com.
GHANA ASSOCIATION OF THE BLIND: SUHUM DISTRICT AND SOMANYA
Photo: Richard, Mary, George, Veronica and Daniel Richard “I am Richard Ofori. I am from Yaw Korkor at Teacher Mantey and I also live there. The mill was constructed in 1997. The aim of constructing the mill is to get financial capital to help individuals in the groups and also serve as a source of employment for people. Such as making Gari and distributing it. We also decided that any accrued profit we would use to organise advocacy workshops. We also decided to use some of the gains to buy some white canes to help those who could not afford them. I was not born with my visual impairment. When I first lost my sight I felt uncomfortable moving around with friends. The Blind Association came and wrote down our names and gave us a capacity building and empowerment workshop which has helped and encouraged me to intermingle with other people so I began associating myself with the abled and disabled alike in the community. In the advent of the impairment I was working with clinker to make cement. The impairment was caused by the clinker I was working with.” Veronica “I live in Suhum. My name is Veronica Axhpi. I come from Somanya. I am 42 years old, I have 6 children. I was attacked by an Apollo Virus in 1980. I was in Coutonu Capital of Benin. Prior to the impairment I was attacked by Apollo three times. However I decided I will keep traveling then all of a sudden I went blind. When I got sent to hospital several times I couldn’t get cured. I went through spiritual healing but I couldn’t get cured. So now I have to push it aside and forge ahead in life. Even though I have this impairment I still trade. I travel far to buy goods which I then sell. This is what I have been doing to cater for myself and I have managed to pay for my children to go to school. I have no husband because those who marry people with visual impairments have the perception that they may carry the burden on their shoulders should they stay married to them. At the moment I have non one in my life and I like it that way! Daniel “I am Daniel Daffour. I am 46 years. I have a wife and three children. I live at Suhum Ahenkrom. I come from Kwahu Twenuruase. In 1999 I was suffering from my left eye after diagnosing a problem with my eye in 2000, I was asked to report to my doctor every two weeks and the drugs prescribed for my ailment were very expensive so I couldn’t buy them regularly. So in 2001 I went blind. The doctor said it was glaucoma. My family and the people in the community knew that I was not born with the ailment. I acquired it after birth. Even they encourage me by advising me that I am not the only person in such a situation. I should let it be history and forge ahead in my life. In the beginning it was difficult for me however with the passing of time; I have adjusted my life situation. Before my ailment I was working. Now I can not work I joined the Ghana Association of the blind and they have really helped me. They help me understand that I am not the only person that has been in this situation. The association sent me to the workshops, seminars and conferences where I have realized I am not the only one with such a situation. They have also encouraged me to go to places that before I was unable to go to. George I am from Mampong Akuapem but live in Suhum. I am 60 years old. I have two daughters but no wife. I was 52 years before I got this eye problem. I was sent to many hospitals but I couldn’t get any solution, then in 2000 I went blind. I find discrimination is great; people in the vicinity do not help me at all. People feel visual impairment is a transmitted disease and a curse from god so we should not be helped. All my family and my sisters do not come and visit me. When I think of them I become so sorry for myself. I joined GAB, so I could meet people. When I meet others I am happy, because I can now get people to talk with. When the meeting is over I become very sad and lonely in my home. I have an uncle who is 90 years he is he one I sometimes go to for food and an allowance. To get to his house I have to pay for a guide to take me to his house. I am now lonely so if I can get any help from anyone I will greatly appreciate it so that I could be able to get a little to cater for myself. Mary “I am called Mary Nyarkoa, I am 40 years. I am a single parent. I have no husband. I have two children and two grandchildren. I come from Mampong Akuapem but live in Suhum. I was not born with the visual impairment. In 2000 my eyes became red, my sight was off an on for some time. I went to hospital but the drugs prescribed for the ailment was expensive so I couldn’t buy them. So in 2002, I went blind. Because I do not have a husband to support me in my life, life has become difficult. My elder daughter who is now married with two children and is now supporting me a little. Life is difficult, even for the sighted, so it is also difficult for those with visual impairments. For instance some people do not want to associate themselves with the visually impaired because they believe that it is a curse or a taboo for sighted to associate with the visually impaired. But some like to intermingle with the visually impaired. When I first lost my sight, I used to cry a lot. When I joined the association they made me aware that visual impairment is a permanent condition that could have happened to anyone, at anywhere at anytime but when you are put in such a condition it does not mean the value of you as a human being has gone. I sometimes feel sad because things I could have done or were doing before I cannot do anymore unless I seek assistance from someone.” GHANA SOCIETY OF THE PHYSICALLY DISABLED : SUHUM DISTRICT AND SOMANYA Isaac “GSPD, we are based in Suhum. The aims and objectives of forming the society was to bring the persons with disabilities, we are bringing them together, so that we can source the fund to train the members to enable them to get vocational skills. Lots of them were begging for alms. This is why we have brought them under one umbrella so we can bring them together, source for funds and train them.” Vera “I like to think more about my achievements than my challenges. Look at me now I have become a qualified typist, I have acquired knowledge and I am enthused about my work, it is building on my confidence and skills. However my challenges have been great. The majority of the community feel that it is a taboo or a curse becoming this way disabled. Some people don’t even want to associate with you. Even in school I remember people were laughing and talking about me, they shunned me. They believed my disability was a disease that could infect them. But I am managing with my situation.” Rebecca “By the time I was about to write my basic examination for junior secondary school I lost my sight and couldn’t see again, so I could not sit my exams. It is difficult but as a human being you have to accept life and plan for yourself. So I have enrolled in the Akuapem School for the Blind where I am taking courses. After school I would like to go in to a trade so I can become economically independent.” Rosina Rosina was born in 1977, she got polio in 1979. She is the single parent of two children. Rosina has limited mobility, but despite this she farms a large area of land in order to support her family. Rosina has suffered much discrimination and has been sexually abuse. While working long hours farming her land she continues to suffer from much verbal abuse from neighboring workmen. MISPA, VOLPHIG Mispa works as a project facilitator for the Volta Physically Handicapped Group, in the Volta region of Ghana “I am Mispa, A PWD. I’m based in Ho, working with VOLPHIG as a project facilitator going into the field, telling people on their rights. Educating people on their rights about the disability act. I am now training PWDs to advocate for themselves on their rights. If someone abuses them, they will now know what step they will take for the implementation of the act.” EDIN recently visited VOLPHIG to observe the work they are doing and hope to implement similar workshops in the future. GHANA EDUCATION SERVICE The Inclusive Education Program was initiated by EQUALL, VSO and USAID in 2003. The government started on a pilot basis for the program in the Greater Accra Region, Central Region and Eastern Region. The resource teachers help regular teachers in the classroom to help identify children with special needs and to advise and guide teachers how best to manage their education. Once children have been screened and they are identified as having hearing, visual or intellectual impairments they are then referred to specialist assessment centers and hospitals where they can receive the specialist attention they require and have an individually tailored education plan drawn up to enhance their learning capacity in mainstream schools. However, specialist assessment centers are not accessible to many communities at present. The message of the scheme is that inclusive education is here to stay, so hopefully with the spread of the program to more areas, more provisions will be made to meet the needs of more children. Conclusion We hope the additional information we have provided proves interesting for Disability Media Inc. and provides further insight into the challenges PWDs in Ghana face as well as their strengths and ability. THANK YOU In providing funding for the making of the DVD, your organisation has enabled us to meet with various Disabled Person Organisations and give the individuals a chance to have their story heard. We believe this will motivate individuals to self advocate and help to increase the inclusion of PWDs within Ghanaian society. Everybody at Eastern Disability Network and the National Bureau for Students with Disabilities would like to express their thanks to you all for making this happen. Yours Sincerely,
Veronica |
