The Coalition of Concerned Persons with Disabilities (CCPWDs) has called for an apology from John Mahama, the National Democratic Congress (NDC) Flagbearer after his comments about individuals who stammer during a recent campaign event. 

The Coalition condemned Mahama’s remarks as deeply offensive and a harmful misrepresentation of people with speech impairments.

In a press release dated August 30, 2024, and signed by Elias Kadeologo and three other persons, the Coalition expressed their dismay over Mahama’s comments. 

They criticized the former president for suggesting that stammering is associated with dishonesty, following his critique of Dr Mahamudu Bawumia’s speech during a media encounter. 

Parts of the statement read, “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 Mahama.

The statement highlighted that Mahama’s comments—implying that stammering indicates deceitfulness—perpetuate damaging stereotypes and expose individuals who stammer to public scorn.

John Mahama during his speech had said that when someone who usually speaks fluently begins to stammer, it is a sign of lying, likening it to a malfunctioning machine gun and suggesting that such individuals are untrustworthy.

But the coalition in the statement warning about the repercussions of such utterances said, “Former President Mahama reportedly remarked that Dr. Bawumia, who typically speaks fluently, began to stammer during a media encounter. He further suggested 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.”

The Coalition emphasized that stammering, or stuttering, is a common speech disorder that does not reflect a person’s honesty, intelligence, or capability. They argued that such remarks from a prominent public figure reinforce negative attitudes and discrimination against those with speech impairments and other disabilities. 

“Stammering does not reflect 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.

The former president, commenting on Dr. Bawumia’s media encounter during a party meeting at Ada on August 28, 2024, said, “You know how to tell when somebody is lying. People who are smooth talkers, who can speak rat-ta-ta-ta-ta like a machine gun. When they become stammerers and 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 said.