The Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) is demanding an apology from NDC Flagbearer, , for mocking people who stammer, while ridiculing Dr Bawumia during one of his campaign tours.
The Coalition expressed disappointment, calling the remark deeply offensive and an unfortunate misrepresentation of individuals who stammer.
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.
Bawumia's media encounter during a party meeting at Ada, on August 28, 2024, John Mahama suggested that the vice president's fumbling reflected the negative mindset they held against 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: MAG/AE