Federation satisfied with inauguration of disability boards

The Ghana Federation of the Disabled on Wednesday expressed happiness over the inauguration of the Mental Health Board and the Board for National Council of Persons with Disability.

The inauguration of the boards followed a two-week ultimatum given to government to form the two boards; else members would hit the streets.

“We are happy that government has finally responded to our call for the formation of the two boards to ensure the drawing of guidelines for the implementation of the Persons with Disability Act and the Mental Health Act,” Mr Yaw Ofori-Debrah told the Ghana News Agency in an interview on Wednesday.

Mr Ofori-Debrah, who is the President of the Federation, entreated members of the boards to work towards compliance of the laws and the protection of rights of members.

He urged government to show commitment and concern to disability issues, by ensuring that public structures and places were made unconditionally accessible to persons with disability.

The Mental Health Board was inaugurated on Tuesday, November 19, with a call on members to establish a fund to support mental health and protect fundamental human rights of mental health patients.

With the inauguration of the Board for National Council of Persons with Disability on Monday November 25, government charged board members to evolve policies and strategies to facilitate the participation of Persons with Disability in the national development process.