Abstract
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.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/15017419.2014.941925 | Journal eISSN: 1745-3011
Language: English
Page range: 366 - 381
Submitted on: Oct 11, 2013
Accepted on: Jun 12, 2014
Published on: Aug 4, 2015
Published by: Stockholm University Press
In partnership with: Paradigm Publishing Services
Keywords:
© 2015 Emmanuel Sackey, published by Stockholm University Press
This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.