Tema: Ms. Mabel Anawoe, a hearing-impaired woman, has called on the government and stakeholders to provide sign language interpreters in all hospitals and public institutions to promote inclusion and ensure access to essential services for persons with hearing disabilities. Ms. Anawoe expressed concern about the difficulties faced by hearing-impaired individuals in their daily lives, especially when seeking medical care or conducting business.
According to Ghana News Agency, Ms. Anawoe articulated her concerns through an interpreter during a stakeholder training organized by the National Association of Local Authorities of Ghana (NALAG) in collaboration with the Tema Metropolitan Assembly. The event was held under the Partnership for Municipal Innovations-Women in Local Leadership (PPMI-WILL) Project on Inclusive Service Delivery strategy through Popular Participation.
She highlighted that the absence of interpreters at critical points of service delivery indicates that their needs are not being considered. Ms. Anawoe explained that the lack of interpreters often leaves hearing-impaired individuals feeling excluded, frustrated, and vulnerable, as they are unable to communicate properly and access necessary services. This often forces them to hire interpreters themselves, even during emergencies.
Ms. Anawoe described the challenges faced during health emergencies, where they are often unable to explain their symptoms or understand the instructions of health professionals. This situation puts their lives at risk and increases the burden on their families and caregivers, leading many to avoid hospitals altogether due to the fear of being misunderstood.
She urged authorities to urgently train and deploy professional sign language interpreters in both public and private institutions, including banks, law courts, and police stations, as part of their customer support systems. Furthermore, she appealed to the public to become more sensitive to the challenges faced by deaf people and support efforts to create a more inclusive society.