Persons with disability in the Upper East Region contesting the impending district assembly elections are incensed about the level of discrimination and stigmatization against them during election campaigns.
[contextly_sidebar id=”MYg3TvBFWdFyr7ey0MATBws4brmOkz0l”]According tot hem, their political opponents continuously cast damning insinuations about their disability during political campaigns.
The have challenged their contenders to play a fair game embark on campaigns devoid of insults.
According to Citi News’ correspondent, Fred Awuni, the candidates have called for intensive education to disabuse the minds of people that disability is disease, and that they are equally capable of being leaders.
He added that the disabled candidates appealed to electorates to vote for people “who will bring development rather than voting on political lines.”
“I remember that somebody insulted me that you are blind and you want to contest, if we vote you in, how are you even going to rule the community and I told them they should forget of my disability because even though I cannot see I can reason,” one candidate narrated.
“I would advise that they should vote for a person who can be able to relate the image of the community but not personality, relative or partisan,” another appealed.
According to Fred Awuni, the disabled candidates have also appealed for financial supports to aid them campaign effectively to win the upcoming election.
In November last year, non-governmental organisations in Ho, the Volta region and other civil society organisations had demand for the inclusion of persons living with disability in the decision making processes in the Metropolitan, Municipal and Districts Assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.
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By: Patricia Conteh/citfmonline.com/Ghana