He said the convention on Rights of PWDs which was adopted in 2006 and enforced in 2008 signalled a “paradigm shift” from traditional charity-oriented, medical based approach to disability to one based on human rights approach.

Alhaji Abubakari gave the reminder in a speech read on his behalf by the Assistant Director Mr. Elvis Boateng during a day’s stakeholders’ forum on the rights of Persons With Disability organised by the Yendi Municipal Assembly and National Commission for Civic Education and was attended by Traditional Authorities, Heads of Departments, and Assembly members.

He said PWDs faced discrimination and barriers that restricted them from participating in society issues on an equal basis with others and were also denied their rights in general school system, employment, free movement with right participation in sports, voting and cultural activities.

Alhaji Hammed Abubakari noted that the protection guaranteed in other human rights treaties and grounded in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights should apply to all PWDs.

He said during the first quarter of this year, the Assembly presented items made up of sewing machines, carpentry tools, and weaving materials worth GH¢ 90,000.00 to 156 PWDs, and in the second and third quarters, an amount of GH¢ 32,050.00 and GH¢ 27,000.00 were disbursed to 77 and 36 Persons With Disabilities.

He said five PWDs in Tertiary Institutions received GH¢ 10,000.00 each, while some of  them in Basic Schools had school and educational materials and empowerment to acquire skills.

Alhaji Sulemana Iddi Alhassan, Yendi Municipal Director of National Commission for Civic Education called on parents to ensure that every child irrespective of their physical condition went to school.

He called on Ghana Education Service, Department of Social Welfare, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies to monitor all school buildings constructed in their areas to ensure that they were PWD friendly.

He appealed to the traditional authorities to ensure that children with disability were protected and reminded the Associations of PWDs to protect the PWDs by ensuring that they all had their rights.

Mr Zakaria Alhassan appealed to all NGOs to assist in protecting the PWDs and provide them their needs as Government could not do it alone.