Physically-challenged man denied entry into Parliament- Here is why

Parliament today, November 30, 2018 denied a person with disability (PWD) access to the Chamber.

According to Parliament, persons with disability (walking difficulties) cannot stand on their feet when the Speaker Professor Mike Ocquaye rises as everyone else is expected to do.

Consequently, persons with disabilities were made to watch proceedings from the visitors waiting area.

It is, however, unclear whether this decision was sanctioned by the leadership of the House.

Alexander Tetteh who is the President of the Centre for the Employment of Persons with Disability said this was prompted by an incident on Thursday.


Alexander Tetteh was denied entry to Parliament

“They said that an incident happened yesterday [Thursday], where one person could not stand and they saw that he was a person with a disability and for that matter, they think that they should prevent anybody who cannot stand [from going in].”

Following this, he has called on the Speaker of Parliament, Professor Mike Oquaye, to intervene.

“I feel sad. I feel that my rights as a citizen to observe Parliament have been denied and I think that the Speaker must address this.”

“The fact that I cannot stand, does not mean that I disrespect any laws or I disrespect any authorities. It is because of my disabilities. It is no fault of mine to become disabled,” he remarked.

Mr. Tetteh was at Parliament house as part of the Red Friday movement by the RTI Coalition to put pressure on MPs to pass the Right to Information Bill.

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