Thursday, 28 March

PWDs suffering; white cane for blind expensive under Akufo-Addo — NDC Disability Coordinator

Politics
Frederick Assor

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) Coordinator for the Disability Desk, Frederick Assor, has indicated that Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) are going through hard times under the current Akufo-Addo-led government.

Mr Assor said that the price of devices that aid the disabled in their movement and daily activities have increased over the four-year period.

Mr Assor, who is also the 2019 SWAG para-athlete of the year, told Kwame Appiah-Kubi, host of CTV’s morning show, Anopa Dwa Bre Mu that: “The prices of our items have also increased because, in His Excellency John Mahama’s time, the white cane, the cane I am holding right now, we use to buy it at GHS22. Today, I can tell you that it is GHS65. If you go to Ghana Braille Union right now, it is GHS65, this cane. It used to be GHS22- GHS25. It wasn’t up to GHS25 but within these four years, it is currently GHS65”.

He bemoaned the rate at which the prices have skyrocketed, leaving the disabled, to bear the brunt.

“The price cannot remain the same but it doesn’t move with that speed... (referring to the white cane),” he added.

He continued: “My brothers who use crutches, those who use prostheses, their shoes, it was GHS50 but right now it is GHS300, GHS400 at Nsawam before you can be able to do one. A wheelchair is no longer available, you will struggle before you buy or before you get some, therefore, it has made everything of ours miserable. We are not seeing anything from this government”.

 

Source: Classfmonline.com