Dear His Excellency President Akuffo Addo,
On 7th January, 2017, you were sworn into office as the fifth president of the fourth republic of our great nation Ghana. You used the occasion admonish as to be responsible citizens and not spectators. It is through that clarion call that I write to you.
On Tuesday January 10th, you named 13 persons who you introduced to us your that they will be heading various ministries as ministers in your government. You continued with another batch which of 12 persons who are heading to various ministries as ministers if they are approved by Parliament’s appointment committee. In all , Mr. President you have named 25 ministerial portfolios.
Mr. President, as a responsible citizen and not a spectator I want to please remind you of your promise in the NPP 2016 Manifesto page 125 which stipulates the inclusion of persons with disability into your government. Mr. President, NPP Manifesto page 125 reads and I quote “This will be achieved by establishing a well-funded, functioning welfare system which addresses the needs of the weak, marginalised, vulnerable and socially excluded.
The NPP will:
a. amend the Disability Act to bring it into line with the UN Convention
on Disability
b. pass appropriate Legislative Instruments for the implementation
of the Mental Health Act, 2012 (Act 846) and the Disability Act,
2006 (Act 715)
c. staff and properly resource the National Council on Persons with
Disability in partnership with civil society organisations
d. implement inclusive education for persons with disability
e. implement equal employment opportunity policies for appointment
into public offices for persons living with disability
f. ensure the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD)
is decentralized to the regional level in order to coordinate the
activities of the various federations.
Mr. President, among the 25 ministers mentioned conspicuously missing is persons with disability . I want to remind you Mr.President that our Former President His Excellency John Dramani Mahama has raised the bar and appointed Dr. Seidu Daana who we all know is physically challenged as a minister in the previous government and that bar cannot be brought down in your government. Your promise which is contained in your manifesto on persons with disability must be fulfilled Mr. President.
Mr. President, persons with disability must also be given their fair share in your appointments. Disability is never inability Mr. President. Mr. President, there are so many persons with disability ( PWDs) in the New Patriotic Party and outside who are more than qualified to be appointed into government. Some were visibly seen on various NPP campaign platforms during the heat of the 2016 campaign propagating the “Nana Addo vision” and agenda and as matter of fact these persons with disability must be appreciated and given a political appointment.
Mr. President, I will end my kind reminder here as I wait patiently for the response to my call through your next batch of appointments. Thank You.
Isaac Selorm Nyamedi
Jeneral Koku Santiago
0245209923
