TV3 "Music Music" programme humiliated the Deaf

From: GhanaWeb, Ghana - Sept 25, 2003

Accra, Sept. 25, GNA - The Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) says it takes strong exception to the TV3 " Music Music" Programme of August 23, which sought to humiliate the Deaf.
A statement signed by Mr S. K. Asare, President of the Association, said the co-hostess of the programme posed a question, which sought to find out how the Deaf by virtue of their disability could express a situation where they were choked while eating.
"Although this might have generated laughter and fun, the fact that the question was to ridicule a group of persons is in no doubt unacceptable and does not portray the Deaf and for that matter persons with disabilities positively. It only goes to ridicule them, to say the least."
He said while persons with disabilities in general and the Deaf in particular were trying to help change the negative public attitude, others were openly inciting the public against them.
"Such comments like the one made by the hostess rather tend to make the public think of us as objects of pity, who require nothing but sympathy."
Mr Asare appealed to comedians, hostess and hosts and those who appear on "Music Music" as well as other programmes in the media, to use that as an opportunity to educate the public about the capabilities of persons with disabilities instead of ridiculing them.
When the Ghana News Agency drew the attention of Paa Kwesi Ackom, Producer/Director of the Programme, to the protest it had received, he explained that it was an inadvertent slip and apologised profusely to the Association.

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