Association of the blind breaks silence

The Ghana Association of the Blind on Monday embarked on a five-hour demonstration, protesting against what it termed "unfair treatment" meted to members by government and certain institutions in the country.

"We are calling on government and any other institution responsible for our upkeep to treat us fairly and give us equal opportunity in education and employment" J.B. Mensah, of the youth wing of the Association, stated when he addressed the media before the commencement of the demonstration.

The association named the Braille Press, Ghana Education Service, Special Education Directorate and the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) as organisations that discriminated against them.

They wore red bands and carried placards, some of which read: "We Also Contribute To National Development"; "Treat Us Equally WAEC"; "Ghana Braille Press Be Up And Doing" and "Save Education For The Blind From Collapsing".

Unlike other demonstrators, who pass through principal streets, a vehicle conveyed them to their respective places due to their plight. In a petition to the Braille Press, which is responsible for printing their Braille materials the Association said: "We express our disgust and anger to the mode of handling the Braille Press, which had become a white elephant in recent years".

Miss Agnes Osei, who read the petition, called for the immediate resignation of all officials of the Press for "exhibiting gross incompetence". Another petition to WAEC and read by Agyekum Adams, Secretary of the Association, said the association was sad because of the insensitivity of the Council's Officials, who work on their examination materials.

The petition said WAEC should make it one of its priorities to handle the members' examination papers properly, stop wrong issuance of examination results and provide adequate Braille answer sheets.

There should also be a major improvement in the Brailing of examination papers and that in-service training should be given to WAEC officials to be able to read questions on the Braille paper that are wrongly spelt.

To the Special Directorate of Education, the petition said, officials should act to bring the proposed integrated system at Offinso Training College in the Ashanti Region to fruition without delay.

The petition called for a permanent representative from the Ministry of Education and the Ghana Education Service (GES), to champion the cause of the blind and officials should always pay regular visits to educational institutions for the blind for proper co-ordination.

Dr Bashiru Iddirisu Koray, National President of the Association, who earlier addressed the media appealed to government to give equal chance to the blind in society. Dr Koray, a lawyer by profession, said it was always an eye sore to see the blind on streets begging due to relegation and that when the education of the blind were given the maximum attention the situation could improve.

Mrs Victoria Mawuli-Woneme, Director of the Braille Press, Revered John Adotey, Head of National Office, WAEC and Mrs Diana Kwadade, Acting Director of Special Directorate of Education, who received the petitions, pledged to deliver the message to the appropriate quarters for redress.