Make All Things Accessible For All Ghanaians.

Happiness is not always found in the money or wealth one has, but, the environment within which one finds himself, living in a discrimination free society gives one joy and happiness. Some are accepted, while others are rejected not by words but by our actions meanwhile, we claim to be one people with one identity.

The 41st World Standards
Day celebrations theme “Accessibility for All With International
Standards”, must have a deep impact on all Ghanaians. It’s high time we
replace selfishness with selflessness, we are all equally important but it
seems like in everything we do as a nation, attention is given to the
physically fit persons much to the neglect of the physically challenged
persons, we most at times do not mull over the products we do to see the number
of people who can reach, enter, maneuver
and use which has always been their
wish.

Although after fifty-three years of
independence, there have been some infrastructural developments but it is
always meant for a certain group of people. Article 29(6) of the 1992
republican constitution of Ghana says, “As far as practicable, every place to which
the public have
access shall have appropriate facilities for disabled persons.” How many buses
brought into the country make
available in them spaces to cater for the disabled? How many vans brought into
the country when converting them for commercial purposes makes provisions for
people with disabilities? How many public buildings have elevators in them? In
addition, those that have in them, how many of them are operable? Are they to
see all these things but not have access to them? Are the teaching and learning
materials in their schools adequate to enable them achieving their dreams? The
questions
could go on and on.

Recently, the Black Challengers nearly
missed an opportunity that came their way to compete with their counterparts in
Argentina but if had been the other way, funds would have been made available
to them as soon as possible. Is there any difference between the right ear of a
horse, and the left ear of the same horse? Are they to remain on beggars and
not earners and givers? Apparently, there are many talents and potentials in them,
which need to be tapped and developed so they in turn give back to the society
and not to always, take from the society.


As we try to develop all facets of our country, let us not deny them
their rights. We need to give attention
to most especially the physically challenged, the aged and all people with
special needs so they can feel at home. You may not cherish a certain part of
your body, but do not be in a haste to forget that without that part of your
body, the rest cannot function accurately. Discrimination does not build a
nation. Let us all build to live a good legacy for generations yet unborn.

LETS DISCOURAGE SELF PRESCRIPTION.

The issue of prescribing medicine for one’s self has become very common a norm in our society now a days.

Self prescription has more or less become another cultural norm that we cherish so much. Grandparents passed it on to our parents, they have also approved it for us, and the possibility of passing it on to generations yet unborn if not checked is very high.

A good number of parents who are neither nurses nor doctors know the kind of medicine to buy for their children each time they are suffering from any form of ailment of which most of us have fallen victims.

Most parents, when notice that their children are ill first go to the pharmacy shops and drug stores to get medicines for them and consider the hospital to be the last resort when the illness escalates.

They mostly do that either to save them the elongated queues or the hustle and bustle they would have to go through at the hospitals.

Moreover, just as parents teach their children the kind of medicine go for just in case they see any form of signs and symptoms, so have drug outlet owners taught their children the prices of various medicines; without taking them through any formal education.

They do not demand prescription forms from customers and they least question them the reason for purchasing that particular painkiller.

Since it has come to stay with us, the Ministry of Health, the Ghana Health Service and all stakeholders should please make sure that pharmacy shops and drug outlets have qualified pharmacist to sell drugs and urge them to demand prescription forms from customers as well before selling drugs to them.

THE NEED TO HOUSE MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE

Unfortunately, the number of persons with mental disorders is surprisingly increasing as days go by, but authorities and institutions responsible for the monitoring of these people seem reluctant in keeping them at the right place.

Relatives of such people often reject them when native doctors and prayer camps fail to redeem them from such an unfortunate incident. There is a saying that insults if not heard, are not painful, thus, taking mad people far from their relatives and housing them does not constantly rekindle their agonies, but seeing their beloved ones in these states always does not only pain them, but soils the reputations of such families.

There are institutions that are being paid to take care of these people but much attention and support seem not to be given to these institutions, moreover the treatment given to these mad people were not the best as it was clearly revealed in Anas’ “Mad House” undercover.

In 2009, I witnessed the doom of a lady who was returning from a night club, and was tipsy could not go home but slept in a porch in a nearby school was raped by a mad man. Having realized what happened to her, and other people witnessing the incident, she committed suicide.

Early last year, we also saw mad man from nowhere on the streets of New Dormaa, a suburb of Sunyani with cutlass threatening the lives of people and causing fear and panic, it was the intervention of some brave men who at the peril of their lives, defied all the odds, attacked the mad man, took the cutlass from him and handed him to the police.

Again, about five weeks ago, many Ghanaians heard on radio about this mad man in Koforidua who was half dead; rotting but still walking on the streets of Koforidua which most of the people attested to that fact and added that, the stink of the mad man, when he passes, quells their appetite for food worse things might have happened elsewhere.

Aside the above problems, majority of people who pass by mad people never feel comfortable and as a result, are always on the alert should they make an attempt to threaten their lives, we all can also attest to the fact that most mad people pick things that have been swept from the streets from the refuse dumps and bring them back on the streets which make it look as if those who are been paid to keep the environment clean are not up to task.

Although they have the right to live, but in such conditions, they should be restricted in order not to infringe on others freedom and rights, since when the harm is done, they cannot be examined to know who did what.

However, in a place like Venezuela, measures have been put in place for people with mental disorder, they are housed; none of them is seen outside, and are well taken care of.

As we try to develop all facets of our country, recognition should also be given to such people because psychiatric nurses are been trained every year and they are been trained to take care of people in such conditions meanwhile no effort has been made to expand the four psychiatric hospitals countrywide or put up structures to house mad people.The earlier we solve this issue as a nation, the better it would be for us.

RIGHT TO INFORMATION – a necessary tool for democracy.

Unlike in the UK and in Nigeria, which both passed their freedom of information bills after long periods of civil society activism, Ghana’s Right to Information (RTI) Bill is still stuck before Parliament. Whilst it is necessary that a strong bill, without unnecessary exemptions, is properly formulated, it is about time that we Ghanaians start enjoying the chunk of benefits that accompanies the RTI.

The bill, if passed, would give power to the governed to know what goes on in the public offices which should help to make governments more accountable. In short the RTI bill will help to create a fuller and more dynamic democracy.

Politicians should not forget that, they are elected to work towards the betterment of those they govern. They are not elected to suit their own whims and caprices. It seems politicians always want to take the electorate for granted, but they should not forget that the electorate are becoming more discerning day in and day out.

The current NDC government and their NPP predecessors have overseen a country which has been hailed internationally as an African democratic success story, yet both parties have done little to move the bill forward. Democracy was defined by Abraham Lincoln as; government of the people, by the people, and for the people. From this definition, one could clearly see that Ghana is government of the people, by the people, but not for the people, in that the voice of the majority is not heard no matter how high they scream.

Laws are made to be obeyed, if not they become useless, as stipulated in Article 21 (1) (f) of the 1992 constitution of Ghana that “All persons shall have the right to Information, subject to such qualifications and laws as are necessary in a democratic society.”

In a democracy, the people are sovereign – they are the highest form of political authority. Power flows from the people to the leaders of government, who hold power only temporarily. As a result politicians must always remember that they are only the temporary custodians for the information they hold in trust for the people.

Under a democratic government, citizens have an obligation to become informed about public issues, to watch carefully how their political leaders and representatives use their power and express their own opinions and interests.

Democracy can never be practiced to the fullest if there is no transparency, and accountability that is requisite in a proper democracy. The more they prolong the passage of the bill, the more the citizens conceive the idea that, politicians have something to hide, but no matter how thick a forest may be, the tortoise will surely find its way to its home.

Are Ghanaians safe if even in a democracy, they still cannot exercise their rights as citizens to know? Let us all rise in unity to support this worthy course, for it’s my right, it’s your right, it’s our right to know.