One of the two students with disability who graduated with first class honours being honored at the ceremony
The Office of Students with Special Needs (OSSN) at the University of Ghana has commemorated the 2018 International Day of Persons with disability with a durbar organized under the theme: Empowering People Living with Disability to Ensure Inclusiveness and Equity.
Prof. Francis Dodoo, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research Innovation and Development (RID) who chaired the ceremony, in his introductory remarks, charged persons living with disabilities to endeavour to rise to the top so that they can get to positions of authority and decision making. He said inclusiveness and equity were rights and therefore behoves on all to ensure that people living with special needs enjoyed these rights. The Pro-Vice-Chancellor in his address indicated that, the university was making strides to ensure the university experience becomes a lot more comfortable for people with special needs through projects such as the assistive labs and special examinations centres. He commended all stakeholders for their support to OSSN.
Prof. Francis Dodoo
Prof. Mavis Dako-Gyeke, Head, Department of Social Work in her keynote address said that the theme was timely because developing people with special needs was one way of eradicating poverty. She further noted that, inequality and lack of social justice in the country was the primary cause of hardships people with disability faced. She therefore called for the coordination and harmonization of the activities of people with disability, the creation of an enabling environment for people and a caring attitude towards them.
The Director for Special Aid at the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations, Dr. S.K. Amponsah in his remarks advised society to adopt a positive attitude towards those who are living with disabilities, noting that they are human and gifted differently. Dr. Amponsah mentioned that, people with disabilities have potentials that must be tapped for development. He encouraged the labour market to employ people with disabilities, adding that there were incentives in this area. He further called for the respect of constitutional provisions pertaining to persons with disabilities.
Dr. S.K. Amponsah
Earlier in her welcome address, the Coordinator of the OSSN, Dr. Awo Mana Asiedu highlighted the activities of OSSN. According to her, the office’s mandate is to support people with vision, hearing, physical and medical impairment. She spoke about some of the outreach and orientation programmes the office organizes as a means of sensitizing members of the university community about students with special needs. Dr. Asiedu appealed to management of the University to consider the expansion of the OSSN as well as ensure that facilities for disabled students are user-friendly.
Dr. Awo Mana Asiedu
Mr. Gilbert Agyare, President of Campus Association of Students with Special Needs (CASSN) called for a deliberate policy that will allow people living with disability get employment to help reduce street begging.
Mr. Gilbert Agyare
The durbar was attended by some staff and students of the University as well as guests from the various associations of disabled persons. There were also students from the Akropong School of the Blind and University of Education, Winneba. Two students with disability who graduated with first class honours were awarded for their academic excellence at the ceremony.
Some performances from the Akropong School of the Blind
The International Day of Persons with Disability is an annual celebration worldwide instituted by the United Nations in 1992.
