STMA: Persons With Disability Share Excitement Over The Construction Of Accessibility Ramp At The Social Welfare Department

Some physically challenged individuals who access the STMA Social Welfare office from time to time yesterday shared their excitement over the construction of Accessibility Ramps, kind courtesy of the Twin Cities in Sustainable Partnership Project funded by the European Union.

According to them,  previously it was a challenge accessing their own office due to the fact that it was not disability-friendly. Individuals in wheelchairs and those with other forms of disability always needed support before accessing the office.

Speaking to Kwame Offie, they said it was always a problem accessing the facility as there were no provisions made for disabled people. They were grateful for the gesture.

The Regional Director of Social Welfare, Jonathan Djan Gyau also lamented that all government buildings by the Disability Act are expected to be friendly for the disabled, though that is not the reality which is a worrying situation.

He further went on to appreciate STMA for such a kind gesture and added that this will help to reduce the burden of physical challenges in accessing the facility.

” Before this was done, the people with disabilities had to be carried before having access to the office. We are hereby extending an appeal to the Twin Cities project to help social welfare institutions with similar projects for disabled persons, considering the fact that the social welfare institutions enforce the Act that seeks to ensure that public offices have disability-friendly facilities.

In addition to this, they painted the offices and provided computers too. We are very much grateful.”

The MCE of STMA, Abdul Mumin, shared the essence of the gesture.

He said, “Social Welfare is a department of the Assembly. Under the EU project, we taught it wise to provide a disability-friendly ramp so that disabled individuals will have access to this institution. We also provided computers and re-furbished the offices to make their work very effective.”

Through the benevolence of the Twin -City In Sustainable Partnership Project (TCSSP), the Department was also supported with  Iron Mongery, Louvre blades and Cariers, 1 desktop and Printer, tiling of floors and provision of 25 plastic chairs and ceiling fans in the Conference room and painting of inter walls, Hardwood and metal surfaces.

Author- Kwame Offie