Mr Richard Cofie, an International Ghanaian architect, made the suggestion at the third day of a weeklong 50th Anniversary celebration of the Ghana Institute of Architects in Accra. The event is on the theme: “Integrated Development in Ghana-The Architects’ Focus”. Mr Cofie said such a Board should be tasked to review all government facilities to bring them to par with the standards and legislations governing the built environment. He expressed worry that some sections of the Disability Act were not being observed in the construction of modern public spaces and these included section three which deals with living conditions in specialised establishment; Section seven which details what should be done to enable Persons with Disability (PWD) to gain access public services; as well as Section 25 which talks about PWD as a pedestrian. Mr Cofie said the Board should also ensure that access to public spaces, changing levels, sanitary provision and seating places for public spaces and buildings were compliant with the Disability Act. He called on the Government to show leadership by ensuring that government buildings were compliant with the legislation saying such a move on the part of Government would encourage owners of restaurants, offices and other private buildings to comply. A key provision in the Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which requires public buildings to provide appropriate facilities to make them easily accessible to persons with disability is yet to be enforced, six years after the passage of the law. The law requires owners or occupiers of public structures to provide appropriate facilities to make them easily accessible by persons with disability. Unfortunately many government buildings including that of the Attorney-General’s Department and Ministry of Justice, Parliament House and the Judicial Service still lack adequate facilities to enable such access. |
