The Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) is demanding an apology from NDC Flagbearer, John Dramani Mahama, alleging that he mocked people who stammer while taking aim at Dr. Bawumia during a campaign tour.
In a press release issued on Friday, August 30, 2024, and signed by Elias Kadeologo alongside three others, the Coalition expressed its deep disappointment, describing Mahama’s remarks as offensive and a damaging misrepresentation of those with speech impediments.
“As an organization committed to the protection of the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities in Ghana, the Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) expresses our deep concern and disappointment regarding recent comments made by Former President John Dramani Mahama, the Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), when he was commenting on the Press engagement of the Flag bearer of the New Patriotic Party-Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, the Vice President of the Republic of Ghana,” the statement said.
The statement asserted that John Mahama’s remarks implying that people who stammer are liars not only reinforce damaging stereotypes but also subject individuals with speech impairments to public mockery and abuse.
“In a public statement, Former President Mahama reportedly remarked that Dr. Bawumia, who typically speaks fluently, began to stammer during a media encounter. He went further to suggest that such stammering is a sign of dishonesty, stating that “any person who does that is a liar.
“We, the members of the CCPWDS, find these remarks to be deeply offensive and an unfortunate misrepresentation of individuals who stammer. Stammering, also known as stuttering, is a speech disorder that affects millions of people worldwide, including many in Ghana. It is not a reflection of one’s honesty, intelligence, or competence. Such comments from a prominent public figure not only perpetuate harmful stereotypes but also reinforce negative attitudes towards people with speech impairments and other disabilities,” the statement read.
While discussing Dr. Bawumia’s media appearance at a party meeting in Ada on August 28, 2024, John Mahama suggested that the vice president’s stammering mirrored the negative bias they have towards the NDC.
“You know how to tell when somebody is lying, people who are smooth talkers, who can speak rat-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta like machine gun. The time when they become stammerers and they start stammering, you know they are lying.
“Somebody who can speak ta-ta-ta-ta-ta-ta like AK-47, suddenly, media encounter… the person started stammering and you can’t tell the head or tail; the fundamentals are weak,” he teased.
Read the full statement below:
