Engelsk titel: Disability and political participation in Ghana: an alternative perspective
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Författare:
Sackey, Emmanuel
Email: sakigh@yahoo.com
Språk: Eng
Antal referenser: 19
Dokumenttyp:
Artikel
UI-nummer: 15103489
Sammanfattning
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) rarely attain political positions in Ghana. This relates more to
the scenario of PWDs as candidates contesting for political position than the mere participation as
voters. The core objective of this article is to examine the extent to which local politics remain
directly accessible to PWDs in Ghana. In specific terms, this study seeks to analyse the context
within which PWDs strive for political inclusion into the local government system, to identify and
examine the factors impeding the participation of PWDs in local politics. Findings from the survey
linked the inadequate political representation of PWDs to multiple factors, namely: (1) stigmatization
and negative social perception regarding the capabilities of PWDs, (2) lack of resources, including
financial and logistical support, required for effective campaign, (3) accessibility challenges relating
to the built environment, communication and information access and (4) educational background of
PWDs. Flowing from these outcomes, the prospect of affirmative political action as a ‘gap-bridging’
alternative has been examined. The research methodology was primarily qualitative.