HearMi Ghana is a non-profit making organization that champion activities that reduces the incidence of hearing loss in Ghana by engaging in advocacy, health education, screening, research, treatment, rehabilitative services and other philanthropic activities with the aim of assisting people to hear sounds of the world.
The organization is a recipient of a certificate from the World Health Organization (WHO) for their role played in Ghana over the years and also during this years’ (2022) world hearing day.
HearMi Ghana was also honored at the Volta Media Excellence Awards 2022 for their contribution towards ensuring that media personnel and industry players protect and maintain their sense of hearing while working and entertaining themselves and the general public.
The founder Mr. William Hodzi during this year’s international day of sign language, 23rd September, 2022 in a statement released pleaded with government to as a matter of urgency put in all the legislative frameworks needed to implement Ghana Sign Language policy and recognize the Ghanaian Sign Language as an official language of the deaf in Ghana to enhance sign language (SL) education and protect the linguistic right and identity of the deaf communities.
Below is the statement
GHANA NEEDS AN OFFICIAL SIGN LANGUAGE POLICY
There are over 300 sign languages being used as a source of communication by about 70 million deaf globally.
Apparently, we do not have much data on the number of deaf people in Ghana. However, the Ghana Association of the Deaf reported about 110,625 to be deaf in Ghana.
Ghana has about 20 schools for the deaf but the quality of education compared to their counterparts at the mainstream hearing schools is far way below standard.
Key among many reasons is the fact that we do not have a Ghanaian Sign Language Policy.
Government upon governments lack the political will to push for the policy and its implementation because of the financial commitments that come with it.
The unavailability of a formalized sign language policy is affecting the funding process and systematic administration of sign language services in Ghanaian schools for the deaf.
In 2006, the Persons with Disability Act, (Act 715) was passed to protect the rights of PWD including people who could not hear. This Act is a good attempt but woefully inadequate compared with global and other regional disability legislations because it has no policy to promote the Ghanaian Sign Language.
However, Ghana ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which includes the deaf in 2012, but it is yet to comply with the provisions outlined in it to enhance sign language education and protect the linguistic right and identity of the deaf communities.
When this is successfully implemented, it will ensure that all public service providers employ the services of Sign Language interpreters to aid the communication of the deaf with the general public. Also, we entreat all media houses to employ the services of sign language interpreters (SLI) during important programs like televised News reportage. Important state programs such as the presidential, parliamentary and ministerial address to the nation should always include services of SLI for easy comprehension by the deaf communities.
HearMi Ghana also applauds the University of Cape Coast, University of Ghana, Ashesi University, and other institutions that have policies encouraging the study of Ghana Sign Language as part of the requirements in obtaining the first degree. We encourage the Ministry of Education and Ghana Education Service to infuse the study of GSL into our second cycle school’s curriculum and if possible at the primary level as well.
When this is done, we will have a country where the deaf communities can freely communicate with the general public without difficulties.
Sign: William Hodzi
Founder: HearMi Ghana
