Akuapem North Member of Parliament (MP), Samuel Awuku, has called for urgent and targeted action to address the pressing challenges facing students at the Akropong School for the Deaf in Mampong, Eastern Region.
His advocacy follows an engagement between students and Members of Parliament (MPs), organised by the Department of Public Engagement with support from Mr. Awuku.
The session featured presentations from several MPs including Fred Agbenyo (Guan), Edem Agbana (Ketu North), Kojo Oppong Nkrumah (Ofoase-Ayirebi), Shirley Kyei (Atwima Nwabiagya South), and Wallace Pele (Afram Plains North).
Briefing Parliament on the outcome, Mr. Awuku described the event as a step towards inclusive dialogue and participatory democracy.
He highlighted major concerns, including the absence of a legislative framework for deaf education, poor infrastructure, and the need for a curriculum tailored to the needs of hearing-impaired learners. He also raised alarm over student safety due to the school’s split-campus layout, which forces them to cross busy roads daily.
“The only Senior High Technical School for the Deaf in the country operates without any legal framework to secure its future through guaranteed funding, policy direction, or institutional support. This leaves the school vulnerable to inconsistent funding, administrative neglect, and limited infrastructure,” Mr. Awuku told Parliament.
He stressed that the students are not asking for sympathy, but for fairness and equal opportunities.
To that end, Mr. Awuku proposed that Parliament refer the matter to relevant committees, including Education, Gender, Children and Social Protection, and Constitutional, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs, to consider a bill that would ensure dedicated funding, qualified staff, and improved infrastructure for special needs institutions.
He also supported calls for Ghanaian Sign Language to be formally recognised nationwide, advocating for reforms that guarantee the presence of interpreters in courts and police stations to ensure access to justice for the hearing impaired.
Mr. Awuku underscored that such legislation would go beyond supporting a single school, representing instead a national commitment to inclusivity, equity, and sustainable development.
“This aligns with Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 4 on Quality Education, particularly Target 4.5, which aims to eliminate disparities and ensure equal access to all levels of education and vocational training for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups,” he noted.
The former Director-General of the National Lottery Authority expressed confidence that with the backing of Parliament, sustainable and lasting solutions can be implemented to uplift marginalised communities across Ghana.
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