Show your Potential- Ofori Debra

Published in the Daily Graphic on 4/02/2010, pg 30

Story: Matilda Attram
The President of the Ghana Association of the Blind (GAB), Mr Yaw Ofori Debra, has challenged people with disabilities to take up roles and responsibilities in their communities to demonstrate their potential contribution to the development of the nation.
He said persons with disability needed to involve themselves in societal activities to discontinue the negative perception of being unable to perform in society.
“We should not wait for society to approach us before we can exhibit what we can do.” We must create the perception that we can do everything despite our challenges,” he said.
Mr Debra gave this advice during the 2010 Greater Accra Regional Biennial convention for the blind in Accra.
It was organised by the GAB to address the challenges of the visually impaired in society.
Speaking on the theme “Inclusion of the Blind and Partially Sighted Persons into the Ghanaian Society”, Mr Debra, who is also visually impaired, indicated that people with disabilities had a greater role to play in stopping the negative perception on them in society.
It was also to encourage members of the association to partake in activities that would empower and allow them enjoy their rights.
He stated that although society had a responsibility towards aiding the blind, among other persons with disability, the blind must also prepare to contribute to improving their own welfare.
“We have a bigger role to play if we are calling for an inclusion in society. We should not always be at the receiving end but must also prove to society that we have something to offer in developing the nation,” he stated.
He, therefore, appealed to the government and the public to create an enabling environment that would help persons with disability demonstrate their capabilities in the development of the nation.
The Director of GAB, Mr Peter Obeng Asamoah, in his address urged members of the association to strive positively in their activities to earn the maximum support from society, adding that “never say you have nothing to offer to society, but rather express your opinions and what you can do best”.
The chairperson for the function, Rev Mrs Victoria Wayoe, pointed out that there was the need for society to include persons with disability in the decision-making process among other initiatives to enhance their capabilities in the development of the nation.
She, therefore, advised members of the association to stand against self-pity and rather support one another in society.