The coronavirus pandemic continues to unearth some uncomfortable truths in Ghana, as the inequalities that too often live below the surface are bubbling up for all to see. The widely marginalisation and exclusion of persons with disabilities in COVID-19 response, Modern Ghana reported.
“Persons with disabilities are among the most endangered by COVID-19, as their conditions or chronic illnesses may leave them at greater physical risk of suffering the virus’ devastating effects. As pertains with general access to healthcare, persons with disabilities are less likely to receive appropriate care and treatment for COVID-19”
“This situation potentially undermines ongoing efforts to ‘flatten the curve’ and leaves many of the estimated 3% of Ghana’s population with disabilities, to fend for themselves” said Auberon Jeleel Odoom.
The situation of persons with disabilities in Ghana in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic goes against the country’s obligations, having signed and ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in 2012. In Article 11, the Convention requires State parties to take ‘all necessary measures to ensure the protection and safety of persons with disabilities in situations of risk’, including conflict, humanitarian emergencies, and natural hazard events. This makes it imperative on the part of the government to engage the disability community in any COVID-19 emergency response and recovery actions to help mitigate the crisis.
