Women and Persons with Disability contesting in the December 17, 2019 District Level and Unit Committee Elections have received massive endorsement and support of all queen mothers in Ghana to win the elections in their respective assemblies.
At the celebration of the 2019 International Day of the Persons with Disability organized simultaneously in all the 16 regions of Ghana by the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation, the Queen mothers pledged to fully support all women and persons with disability in their localities to win the assembly elections.
In the Greater Accra Region for instance, the Queen mothers led by the Ada Terkpebiawe Divisional Queen Mother, Naana Korleki Korley I, encouraged the women and disabled aspirants in the assembly elections to campaign without any fear or intimidation.
The Queen Mothers are of the view that with adequate representation of women and persons with disability, the all participatory and all-inclusive local governance system or practice Ghana had adopted many years ago could be realized.
Naana Korleki Korley I, who is also a daughter of a disabled mother expressed utmost disappointment at the way and manner society continues to discriminate against and abuse the rights of women and persons with disability.
She said majority of Ghanaian women and persons with disability are capable and ready to contribute their quotas to national development; and must therefore be given the opportunity and all the support they deserved.
The Chairman for the occasion and Founding President of the Worldwide Miracle Outreach, Evangelist Dr. Lawrence Tetteh blamed successive governments for failing to address the needs of women and persons with disability to enable them to take their rightful place in society.
He encouraged the persons with disability to have a strong vibrant association that could insist on the government and duty bearers to do things right without discrimination against any section of Ghanaians.
“Our leaders must know that disability is not inability. Somebody can be blind but the mind can help build a better nation. And I am believing God for a day when a disabled person will be the Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament; I am believing God for a day when the Chief Justice or the President of Ghana is a disabled person”.
Dr. Lawrence Tetteh insisted that “there is no law in Ghana that forbids a disabled person from becoming President. Only persons with mental disorders are disqualified by the constitution of Ghana from becoming a President”.
The Executive Director of Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation, Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba who is known locally and internationally for her strong advocacy, affection, love, care, support for persons with disability, women and children called for respect and equal treatment, and equal opportunities for the less privileged in society.
The Former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection said it was completely unacceptable for the society to continue to marginalize, stigmatize, abuse and ostracize women and persons with disability.
According to her, such treatment could only undermine the dignity and self-confidence of the women and persons with disability to offer themselves for higher local and national positions.
Dr. Otiko Afisah Djaba therefore called on all Ghanaians to vote massively for the persons with disability and women contesting the December 17th district level and unit committee elections. This she indicated will give them a strong voice and representation in decision making processes at the local level.
Meanwhile, 18,510 people are contesting the 2019 district level and unit committee elections in Ghana. Out of the number, only 909 are women and about 20 persons with disability.
Some of the women aspiring assembly members led by Madam Christiana Nkansah of Cantonment Electoral Area in the La Dadekotopon Municipality commended the Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation for the unflinching support which had instill much confidence in them [women] to battle it out and win against their male counterparts in the elections.
All the aspirants received prayers from Evangelist Dr. Lawrence Tetteh for God’s blessings and favour for victory come December 17th 2019.
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