Govt compiles data on disabled

THE government is compiling data on all disabled persons for the formulation and implementation of policies for their development and welfare, the Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, has said.
Mrs Okaikoi was speaking during a courtesy call on her by the Ghana Federation of Disabled in Accra on Wednesday to inform the government of the forthcoming International Trade Fair by persons with disability.
The visit was also meant to solicit her assistance towards the organisation of the week-long event scheduled to take place in Accra from November 25 to December 4, 2009.
Mrs Okaikoi assured the leadership of the federation of the government's commitment to making life better for them.
The minister appealed to the public, particularly families of disabled persons, not to neglect them, since that could resort in their begging on the street.
Such a neglect and begging, she said, could be dangerous to the well-being and development of disabled persons.
Mr Okaikoi implored the federation to bring their peers who were outside their organisation to become members to enable them to benefit from programmes that would be jointly initiated by the government and the federation.
The Executive Director of the Ghana Federation of Disabled, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, said delegations from the 13 participating countries in the forthcoming fair would be accompanied by first ladies of the respective countries.
Ms Kusi said persons and organisations who had over the years contributed to the welfare of persons with disability would also be honoured.
On behalf of the federation, she appealed to the Ministry of Information to include in its education and publicity programmes, facilities such as Braille that would enable them to have easy access to information from the government.
She appealed to the government to ensure that public places such as hospitals and ministries provided facilities that were friendly to disabled persons.
The fair will showcase various products by the disabled in Africa.
Participants will be drawn from 13 African countries including Tunisia, Uganda, Mali, Senegal, Morocco, Zambia and South Africa.
On display during the exhibition by the disabled will be products such as batik and tie-dye, wood work, fashion and dressmaking.

PIXY
The Minister of Information, Mrs Zita Okaikoi, explaining a point to the leadership while Mr Robert Frimpong Manso (standing) interpret to the deaf. With them are from right, Ms Rita Kyeremaa Kusi, the Executive Director of the Federation of Disabled and Mr Obeng Asamoah.