The Journal of Disability Conversations (JDC has been launched in Accra at the auditorium of the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA).
The launch which was chaired by the Vice Chancellor of the UPSA, Prof. Mawutor, brought together high profiled dignitaries, activist-persons with disability, students, general public and the Media.
His Excellency, former President J. A. Kufuor was the Special Guest of Honour and was represented by his spokesperson, Dr. Kwabena Osei Adubofour. Among the high profiled persons who honoured the launch were; the Country Director of Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, Ms. Anna Wasserfall, Hon. Francis Poku, former National Security Minister and more listed below.
The UPSA Vice Chancellor, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor welcomed the initiative and applauded the organisers for the novelty, pledging the support of the university for further collaboration in highlight disability issues for the benefit of all. He said, “UPSA is open to the effort help in deepening our understanding of disability for inclusion and integration.”
More dignitaries included, Hon. O. B. Amoah, former Minister of State, Hon. Dr. H. S. Daannaa, former Minister for Chieftaincy and Culture, former IGP David Asante Apeatu, Dr. Susan Adu-Amankwah and Mr. Ivor K. Greenstreet former flagbearer of the CPP, Mr. Kwasi Subi, Retired Educationist, Ms. Evelyn Appiah, Esq. and Dr. Benjamin Bishop Ayamba.
On his part, former President Kufuor said, “while applauding this initiative to document our free and open expressions of the thought on a very revered subject, I also invite PWDs into worthy activism that will give meaning to this effort.” Further, he said, “the Journal is worth reading and should be shared across the many channels that possibly can reach the entire world.”
The programme also drew students from the UPSA, Kufuor Scholars, Central University, and University of Ghana. There were present students with disability from the Adventist Possibilities Ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
On her part, the Country Director of KAS, Ms Anna Wasserfall expressed the joy of heroutfit to sponsor the publication and be part of the event. She pledged the willingness to devote more time and energies to the disability conversations. She also highlighted the interest of the Foundation in reaching out to the marginalised sections of society for inclusive development.
The Journal of Disability Conversations was an initiative of the Rights of Youth and Disability (RYD) International in conjunction with the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation with sponsorship from the Konrad Adenauer Foundation and the backing of the University of Professional Studies, Accra.
The Editor-in-Chief of the Journal is Professor Baffour Agyemang Duah, assisted in the Editorial Team by; Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh Jnr. as Editor, Mr. Kwasi Subi as Member and Mrs. Linda Manu Arhin as Member. The journal is intended to be a quarterly publication of easy-to-read but highly intellectual discourse on the disability subject.
The objects for the Journal of Disability Conversations are; (1) To serve as a platform for disability research, documentation and advocacy. (2) To demystify disability in all types, kinds, forms, shapes and stereotypes. (3) To reorient prejudiced minds and thoughts against disability.(4) To expose the widespread misconception and misappreciation of disability as taboo. (5) To document and celebrate trailblazing efforts of persons with disability in all spheres of life.
Source: Richard Nana Appiah Kubi/Ahotoronline.com
