Jantuah must apologise for “crippled Ivor” comment – GFD

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) have called on Senior Statesman, Franklin Adubobi Jantuah to “render an unqualified apology to the disability fraternity” following “unacceptable despairing and demeaning” comments he made against the newly elected flagbearer of the Convention People’s Party, Ivor Greenstreet.

In an interview marking the 50th anniversary of the overthrow of Osagyefo’s government, Jantuah who is the only surviving member of Nkrumah’s cabinet, bemoaned the quality and dedication of the current generation of CPP party leaders and members.

According to him, the election of a “cripple” as flagbearer, smears badly on the image of the party thus Nkrumah’s legacy.

“The CPP itself is no more. It’s not functioning,” said a disappointed Jantuah to Ghtoday hosts Kafui Dey and Baisiwa Dowuona Hammond at his Kumasi residence.

“If you have a CPP with a leader who is a cripple… I wonder how he is going to rule,” he states with curiosity.

In a press statement, signed by its president, Yaw Ofori Debrah, the GFD has asked that Jantuah's comments against Greenstreet and by extension all person’s living with disability, be taken with a pinch of salt.

“Ignore unreservedly the conservative Politician and his retrogressive tendencies which have no place anymore in modern and inclusive democracies in the world.”

According to them, Jantuah “who should have been a seasoned politician and a reservoir of political experience” has “disappointed all modern thinking and progressive democrats by his expression”.

Quoting the 1992 constitution of Ghana which states in article 15 (1) that ‘the dignity of all persons shall be inviolable’ and Section 37 of the persons with Disability act 2006 (Act 715) which ‘frowns on derogatory statements about persons with disability…’ the GFD has asked that, Jantuah debates the flagbearer on “ideas and other areas of competency” given that “the law frowns on anybody attacking a person because of that person’s disability.”

“GFD views Jantuah’s statement as counterproductive to the respect of the laws in Ghana… Franklin Jantuah must render an unqualified apology to the disability fraternity without delay” the statement further states.