The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has called on the attention of the government on the delay of the inauguration of the governing Board of the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) as provided for under section 43 of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
“The GFD would like to use this opportunity to respectfully call on the President of the Republic of Ghana, to inaugurate the governing Board of the National Council on Persons with Disability as a matter of urgency as any further delay would seriously derail the progress made so far in the disability sector”.
A statement issued and signed by National President of GFD, Mawunyo Yakor-Dagbah, said the delay in the commencement of operations of the Board has impacted negatively on the effort of the Council and stakeholders in taking major decisions aimed at promoting inclusion and effective participation of persons with disability in the Ghanaian society.
It said that there is a high tendency for the needs and interests of persons with disabilities to be overlooked despite the commencement of numerous development programmes, policies and projects that are being executed across the country for the benefit of citizens of Ghana since the beginning of government’s second term.
It also stated that “the role played by the NCPD in this regard is crucial but unfortunately, it is currently not fully functioning due to the absence of the Board, hence, the urgent need to inaugurate its governing Board”.
The statement stated that the tenure of office of the previous Board of NCPD which was inaugurated in 2018 has ended and in accordance with section 44 of Act 715 a new Board is supposed to be inaugurated.
“As a Federation, we acknowledge the positive work of the government and the President for certain interventions made to protect and promote the rights and wellbeing of persons with disabilities in Ghana”, it added.
The National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) is a creation of the Disability Act 2006 (section 41
of Act 715), with an object to propose and evolve policies and strategies to enable persons with
disabilities be included and participate in mainstream national development.
By Benedicta Naa Lamiorkor Lawson|3news.com|Ghana
