Ballot boxes must be located in accessible areas for people with disabilities- Save the Eye Foundation
Patience Ofei, Executive Director of Save the Eye Foundation, has urged the Ghanaian government to swiftly enact laws requiring buildings to include accessible routes for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
In an interview on GTV’s Breakfast Show, Ofei pointed out that many public areas, including voting centers, are not accessible to PWDs, which denies them essential services and support.
Moses Ayanku Dery, the visually impaired founder of Save the Eye Foundation, stressed that vulnerable groups, particularly those with disabilities, suffer disproportionately during societal unrest. He remarked, “In times of chaos, it’s the disabled individuals who bear the brunt.”
To emphasize this message, Save the Eye Foundation is organizing a Peace Walk on October 30th, ahead of Ghana’s 2024 elections. The event aims to raise awareness about how violence and disorder impact vulnerable groups, including the blind, elderly, children, and PWDs.
Dery noted the importance of peaceful elections, explaining that “noise and chaos at polling stations deter visually impaired individuals from voting, and during pandemonium, we are often overlooked.”
Discussing election-related challenges, Gladys Agbenu, secretary of Save the Eye Foundation, highlighted the obstacles PWDs encounter when accessing polling centers.
“On election day, reaching polling boxes can be difficult, especially when they are situated on pavements or in classrooms that lack wheelchair or crutch access. We prefer not to be carried; we want to be able to exercise our voting rights independently,” she said.
Agbenu also emphasized the need for public education regarding the rights of PWDs, particularly the importance of allowing them to bypass queues on election day.
Save the Eye Foundation is inviting prominent religious and political leaders, including the Chief Imam, the Christian Council, and traditional chiefs, to support the Peace Walk and promote inclusivity.
The organization is calling on security agencies to maintain peace and order at polling stations. They also urge the public to resist any attempts by political actors to incite chaos, particularly during this tense election year, as the current government seeks to retain power and the largest opposition party aims to regain office.
With the December 2024 elections approaching, the Peace Walk organized by Save the Eye Foundation highlights the urgent need for improved accessibility, inclusivity, and security for all citizens, including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), in Ghana’s democratic process.
