Vice president of the Ghana Blind union Zakariya Mohammed is unhappy with comments made by the Gender and social protection minister, Afisah Otiko Djaba which according to him, sort to ridicule the disable fraternity.
The Gender Minister in her latest public utterances appealed to Ghanaians to stop giving money to beggars in the streets, saying persons that gave alms to them, were encouraging a bad practice.
The gender minister also alleged that some beggars own kiosks, houses and taxis and now have taken begging as a lucrative venture, but according to her such attitudes not be allowed hence her ministry was rolling out interventions to empower disabled persons that were in such positions.
However commenting on the gender minister’s position, the vice president of Ghana Blind Union in the Northern Region, Zakariya Mohammed denied the minister’s assertion saying non of its members had acquired such properties through begging and therefore challenged the Gender Minister to evident to backed her claims.
The phenomenon of begging has become a topical issue in the country as many people are worried about the safety of these beggars in the streets.
Zakaria Mohammed, lamented that the only solution to preventing disabled persons from begging is for the government not to pay lip services to the welfare and inclusion of persons with disabilities, by putting in place interventions that would address their challenges rather than making such comments.
The Blind Union vice chairman, requested the gender minister to concentrate her efforts in fining solutions to the challenges facing PWDs.
