Centre for Democratic Development (CDD), Ghana has noted that inability of physically challenged persons to observe parliamentary proceedings, shows that Ghana?s democracy disempowers socially challenged persons, and excludes them from public affairs.
The Centre also expressed worry that women are still subjected to discriminatory political and cultural practices that in the end severely shrink their democratic space and disempower them in the process, though they are in the majority.
Mina Okuru, Communication Officer at CDD-Ghana, who said this in a statement issued in Accra and copied to Ghana News Agency on Wednesday called on government to initiate steps to reverse the trend.
She expressed regret that People Living with HIV and AIDS PLWHAS still face stigmatisation and discrimination in spite of national policies being in place to make them live dignified lives and accepted as legitimate members of their communities.
According to her until PLWHAS feel safe and do not suffer from isolation should be allowed to fully partake in public life, Ghana?s efforts to expand the frontiers of democracy would be half hearted.
?Social minorities are yet to be accepted in the Ghanaian community as persons with equal human rights,? she added.
Okuru said in celebrating International Human Rights Day, which falls on December 10 each year, CDD-Ghana would like to emphasise that, every person living in Ghana is an important contributor to the democratic development of the nation.
?It is therefore imperative that every Ghanaian and all civil society activists strive for the achievement of an all-inclusive society,? she added.
The centre called on government to take the lead in ending discrimination at work places, schools and at all levels of the society as well as promote the well-being, equal rights and opportunity for the socially challenged through the enactment of laws, and proper implementation of policies meant to protect them.
?These should go hand in hand with massive education and anti-stigmatisation campaigns and proper social integration programmes,? CDD said.
Ghana has come a long way in its democratic development, and made considerable progress in upholding the rights of its citizens.
But CDD-Ghana says it believes, much more remains to be done for the country to achieve the ultimate goal of universal human rights.
?Social exclusion and marginalization remains an area of major challenge for the country as a whole and, much more so for the socially marginalized persons whose daily experiences is akin to living a ?life of darkness 365?,? the centre said.
Socially challenged persons apart from being underrepresented in political circles are discriminated against in the provision of social services and full social integration.
GNA
