'PASSAGE OF DISABILITY BILL NOT SOLUTION TO PROBLEMS'..page 21

Story: Tim Dzamboe, Ho

The Volta Physically Challenged Independent Group (VOLPHIG), an association of physically challenged people in the Volta Region has said the passage of the Disability Bill alone cannot be a panacea to the problems facing affected people.
It said it required a collective and persistent advocacy and lobbying for the effective implementation of the legislation through the development of a strategy and working relationships with identified groups, stakeholders and government agencies to foster the speedy implementation of the act.
The board chairman of VOLPHIG, Mr Joseph Dehole Dometi said this when he addressed the fifth anniversary get-together of the group at Ho.
He said the excellent support and encouragement over the years by development partners and donors was commendable adding that it was a way of assisting persons with disability to enter and participate in the mainstream of the national development process.
He mentioned them as MEND Trust of New Zealand, Democracy and Human Rights Fund of the US Embassy, Ibis West Africa, The Royals Netherlands Embassy, Feed the Mind of UK and the Voluntary Service Overseas (VSO).
Mr Dometi said locally they have joined partnership with five disability non-governmental organizations to form a network known as Volta Disability Network (VODIN).
He disclosed that revolving loans had been advanced to 135 members, mobility aids to over 90 members and residential vocational skills training and ICT for 21 members.
He also said the group had also sponsored the corrective for 25 children and provided mobility aids to 180 members and also vocational skills training and micro credit facility for over 120 new members.
In an address, the programme head of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Peter Hlovor assured them that the department would continue to discharge its statutory obligations to support VOLPHIG and others to promote their welfare in communities.
He disclosed that with financial and material support from the Ho Municipal Assembly and the VSO the department had reactivated three projects in Tsawenu, Anyirawase and Awudome- Nkwanta.
This he said was to provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities and to promote and protect their human rights as enshrined in the UN conventions on the rights of the child.
In a press release signed by the general secretary of VOLPHIG, Mr Francis Asong stated that the group had been able to sell over 50 cartons of chalk to some schools in Ho and its environs on a” buy-one and get-one free promotion basis.
The release stated that disability is still invisible in the wider development agenda particularly the Millennium Development Goals and the country level in the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy(GPRS).
It stated that disability was recognized specifically in the MDGs thus making most donors who focused on the MDGs did not consider disability as a priority.
The release however said disability is gaining recognition as a development issue at international level by the World Bank and stressed the commitment to work with sister organizations and Civil Society Organisations with a shred vision to ensure that persons with disability get the necessary support within the provided legal framework.