The Family and Disability in Ghana: Highlighting Gaps in Achieving Social Inclusion

Authors

  • Maxwell Peprah Opoku Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania
  • Beatrice Atim Alupo Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan-African University
  • Naomi Gyamfi Centre for Disability & Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
  • Lois Odame Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration
  • Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah Centre for Disability & Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology
  • Eric Lawer Torgbenu School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana
  • Eric Badu School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5463/dcid.v28i4.666

Keywords:

Persons with disabilities, Ghana, family support, poverty, social support

Abstract

Purpose: There are social and environmental barriers faced by persons with disabilities which have been reported in literature. In discussing these barriers, attention is yet to be given to the support from families to members with disabilities. This study aimed to examine family support and its impact on the lives of persons with disabilities in Ghana.

Methods: The study participants were 48 persons with disabilities - physical, hearing and visual disabilities - who were members of Disabled Peoples’ Organisations. They were conveniently drawn from 4 districts in the Northern region of Ghana.

Results: The study found that the families of the participants did not give them adequate support to access services that would improve their lives. For instance, limited access to education resulted in inability of participants to secure  jobs.

Conclusion: Without the primary support of the family, persons with disabilities might be unable to break down social barriers due to their inability to access education and other developmentally useful services. The implication of the study for policy-making has been discussed extensively.

Author Biographies

Maxwell Peprah Opoku, Faculty of Education, University of Tasmania

Maxwell Peprah Opoku is a Ghanaian by birth. He studied Political Science from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology.  After serving a year as Teaching and Research Assistant, he developed interest in disability which influenced his decision to enroll in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development for his second degree from this same University. He was appointed as Graduate Teaching Assistant at the Centre of Disability Studies, Department of Community Health while pursuing his Master degree. His area of specialty is disability, special education, community based rehabilitation, inclusive education, health research, management of natural resources, human rights, social policies and public policy. Maxwell is currently doing his PhD in Australia.

Beatrice Atim Alupo, Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences, Pan-African University

Beatrice Atim Alupo holds a degree in International Business from Makerere University, MA in International Trade Policy and Law from Uganda Martyrs University and MSc. in Governance and Regional Integration from the Institute of Governance, Humanities and Social Science, Pan African University, Soa, Yaounde in Cameroon. Her areas of interest are trade, regional integration, public relations, human rights, marketing, management and social research.

Naomi Gyamfi, Centre for Disability & Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology

Naomi Gyamfi is a Masters student pursuing Disability, Rehabilitation and Development at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. She holds a Bachelor degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from the same university.

Lois Odame, Ghana Institute of Management & Public Administration

Lois Odame is an adjunct lecturer at the Ghana Institute of Management and Public administration. She has a first degree in Political Studies from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in Kumasi, Ghana. Lois holds an MPhil in Development Studies, at the Institute for Development Studies of the University of Cape Coast, Ghana. Presently, she is a PhD student Ghana Institute of Management and Public administration. Her passion for social justice and Human Resource Development is reflected in her research interests which include the following themes: Disability and Higher education, Higher education and Employment, Gender and Disability, and social policies.

Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Centre for Disability & Rehabilitation Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Technology

Dr Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah is a lecturer at Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Stuies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana.

Eric Lawer Torgbenu, School of Allied Health Sciences, University of Ghana

Eric Lawer Torgbenu is the current General Secretary of the Eastern Region Ghana Physiotherapy Association Welfare Fund. He is the Head of Physiotherapy Department of East Akim Municipal Hospital, Kibi and a member of the Ghana Physiotherapy Association (GPA). Eric obtained his BECE and SSSCE certificates from Adjumanikope Basic School and Ada Secondary Schools respectively; gained admission into the University of Ghana in 2006 to read Biological Science and further obtained his Bachelor of Science Degree in Physiotherapy from the University of Ghana School of Allied Health Sciences, Korle-Bu, Accra in 2010. While employed by the Ghana Health Service, he had the opportunity to read his Master of Science Degree in Disability and Rehabilitation from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi. He has rich working experience having been involved in health education and promotion exercises across religious bodies in the East-Akim Municipality and beyond.

Eric Badu, School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Newcastle

Eric Badu is a Ghanaian, with interest in Disability and Health research, human rights issues, and Capacity Building and Statistical data analysis. He has 2 years’ and 5 months experience in diverse fields including teaching and consulting in disability and health research, community development practice, empowerment and capacity building. He holds MSc Disability, Rehabilitation and Development, and Bachelor of Arts degree from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. Since 2013, he has worked as Graduate Assistant, Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies, where he led students to visit Community Base Rehabilitation Programmes for Persons with Disabilities. He had also worked as Teaching Assistant in the department of Modern Languages, Faculty of Social Sciences, KNUST from 2011-2012, where he organized tutorials for undergraduate students. He currently doing his PhD in Australia.

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Published

2018-03-16

How to Cite

1.
Opoku MP, Alupo BA, Gyamfi N, Odame L, Mprah WK, Torgbenu EL, Badu E. The Family and Disability in Ghana: Highlighting Gaps in Achieving Social Inclusion. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2018 Mar. 16 [cited 2024 May 12];28(4):41-59. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/277

Issue

Vol. 28 No. 4 (2017): Winter 2017

Section

Original Research Articles

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Copyright (c) 2018 The Author(s)

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