Apologise publicly for mocking stammerers - Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities to Mahama

The Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) is demanding an apology from NDC Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, for mocking people who stammer, while ridiculing Dr Bawumia during one of his campaign tours.

The Coalition expressed disappointment, calling the remark deeply offensive and an unfortunate misrepresentation of individuals who stammer.

This was stated in a press release signed by Elias Kadeologo and 3 other individuals, issued on Friday, August 30, 2024.

“As an organization committed to the protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in Ghana, the Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) expresses our deep concern and disappointment regarding recent comments made by Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), when he was commenting on the Press engagement of the Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party-Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said

According to the statement, John Mahama’s remarks suggesting that persons who stammer are liars not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes, but also exposes individuals with speech impairments to public abuse and ridicule.

“In a public statement, Former President Mahama reportedly remarked that Dr. Bawumia, who typically speaks fluently, began to stammer during a media encounter. He went further to suggest that such stammering is a sign of dishonesty, stating that "any person who does that is a liar.

“We, the members of the CCPWDS, find these remarks to be deeply offensive and an unfortunate misrepresentation of individuals who stammer. Stammering, also known as stuttering, is a speech disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, including many in Ghana. It is not a reflection of one's honesty, intelligence, or competence. Such comments from a prominent public figure not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also reinforce negative attitudes towards people with speech impairments and other disabilities,” the statement read.

While commenting on Dr. Bawumia’s media encounter during a party meeting at Ada, on August 28, 2024, John Mahama suggested that the vice president’s fumbling reflected the negative mindset they held against the NDC.

“You know how to tell when somebody is lying, people who are smooth talkers, who can speak rat-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta like machine gun. The time when they become stammerers and they start stammering, you know they are lying.

“Somebody who can speak ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta like AK-47, suddenly, media encounter… the person started stammering and you can’t tell the head or tail; the fundamentals are weak,” he teased.

Read the full statement below:

MAG/AE