Office Of Students With Special Needs (U.G) Commemorates International Day Of Persons With Disabilities 2017.

Dignitaries at the event

On Friday, the 16th of February 2018 the Office of Students with Special Needs (OSSN) marked the 2017 International Day of Persons with Disability day at the forecourt of its Office. The International Day of Persons with Disability (IDPD) which is commemorated on the 3rd of December every year, is a day set aside by the United Nations since 1992 to create awareness and promote the rights of people living with disabilities all over the world. The delay in marking the occasion was due to the examination schedules of the University.

The theme for the 2017 IDPD, was “Transformation towards a Sustainable and Resilient Society for All”. The event was chaired by the Dean of Student Affairs, Prof. Francis. E.K. Nunoo. Other senior members of the University present included Prof. Mavis Darko-Gyeke, Head of the Department of Social Work (UG), Dr.Akanlig-Pare Akuaffo Hall Master, Mr Lucas Chigabatia, Chief Information and Technology Officer (CITO) UG and Dr. Sabi, the Sarbah Hall Senior Tutor. Other invited guests present were Mr Alexander Bankole Williams, who represented the president of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, and Mr Kofi Laing of Joy FM, Mr. Alex Tettey, president of the Coalition of Disability Organisations and Mr. Peter Caulley of the Ghana Blind Union. There were strong delegations of Students with Special Needs from the University of Cape Coast as well as from the Cape Coast School for the Deaf and Blind.

The coordinator in her welcome address spoke about the successes and challenges of the previous year. She commended the hard-working staff of the unit, who ensure that students get the best services to aid their academic pursuits. In relation to the theme for the IDPD 2017, she said there was the need to engage all persons regardless of their ability, if there was to be real development. She concluded by quoting part of the UN Secretary’s message for the 2017 IDPD:  “… persons with disabilities remain too often excluded from the design, planning and implementation of policies and programs that have an impact on their lives. Too often they face discrimination in labour markets and in access to education and other services”, to emphasize her earlier statement on including all and sundry to ensure sustainable development.

Prof. Francis E. K. Nunoo, in his speech said he was generally impressed with the efforts of OSSN and urged the students to be disciplined and to abide by the expectations of the University. He noted that he was pleased to see some student leaders with disability at the recent leadership seminars held by the university and urged them to ensure their association worked within the regulations discussed at the seminar. He assured the Office of the University’s support to ensure a conducive and serene environment for all students with Special Needs. He also urged the office to better publicize the IDPD to ensure the inclusion and support of other departments and units of the university in their subsequent celebrations.

Prof. Francis E. K. Nunoo

The special guest, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Otiko Afisah Djaba, was represented by Mr. Kwamina Dadzie Dennis, Executive Director of the National Council for Persons with Disability. In a speech read on behalf of the Minister, he commended the office for the good job it is doing and went on to speak about how the theme for the celebration could be achieved if we all worked as a team, that is, the government playing a role, various institutions doing their part and also the persons with disabilities themselves, helping hand in hand to ensure that life is better for them in the country. He stated how the government is ever ready to support persons with disabilities (PWDs) in all aspects of their lives to ensure that they achieve their potentials. The government has put in place certain policies and programs such as Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP), a percentage of the District Assembly Common Fund (DACF), employment of PWDs just to mention a few to ensure that PWDs are able to achieve their potential.

Mr. Kwamina Dadzie Dennis

He also encouraged PWDs to believe in themselves and not to pay attention to society’s negative perceptions and attitudes towards them but rather take advantage of the opportunities available to them to better themselves. He concluded thus; “the government would continue to collaborate with institutions and all Ghanaians to create inclusive society in which all members irrespective of their backgrounds are able and motivated to participate in civic, social, economic and political activities.”

The media representative, Mr Kofi Laing from Joy FM in his address, assured the students of his utmost support, saying, “I’ll be your voice.” He narrated his encounters with some visually impaired students of the university and noted that he was greatly impressed with them and was keen to project their talents and interests on his weekly show on radio.

Mr Kofi Laing 

The day was crowned with entertaining dance and music performances by the cultural troupe of the Cape Coast School of the Deaf, in their colourful costumes.  One of the visually impaired students, Mr. Kennedy Ayikwao, an up and coming musician, treated the audience to some of his compositions, much to the excitement of everyone present.

Cultural Perfomance by the Cultural troupe of the Cape Coast School for the Deaf

Mr. Gilbert Agyare, a level 300 visually impaired student and Mr. Jeremy Bekui a level 200 hearing impaired student shared their experiences of life on campus as students with impairments.    Solidarity messages were received from the various groups represented at the event.

 

Mr. Gilbert Agyare and Mr. Jeremy Beku

 

 

For more pictures of the event, please click the link below:

 https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/10bLykoHuWFqu-nT64wDlhLlHv5x1Ro9u?usp=sharing