Ghanaian communications specialist and disability advocate Selasi Sikanku has opened up about a painful childhood experience, revealing that some parents once objected to his admission into a mainstream primary school because he is blind.
Speaking in an interview with media personality Kafui Dey, Sikanku recounted how after successfully completing nursery school at Little Flower Montessori School, his parents sought to enroll him in a primary school around Achimota to continue his education through integration.
According to him, the school’s management initially appeared receptive to the idea.
“My parents went there and explained that I am visually impaired and that they wanted an integrated setup, as my previous school did. The headmistress said, ‘Oh, no problem, we’ll do it.’ So, everything was set,” he said.
However, he said the situation took a disappointing turn after the matter was reportedly discussed at a PTA meeting.
“She later told my parents that they had gone to a PTA meeting, and the parents said they wouldn’t want a blind person around their children,” Sikanku shared.
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He said the rejection left him devastated, especially as many of his friends from Little Flower were moving on to new schools at the time.
“It was a disappointment. All my friends were going to their various schools, and I also knew I was going to that school around Achimota. Then suddenly, it changed,” he recounted.
Reflecting on the incident, Sikanku questioned whether misconceptions about blindness may have fueled the resistance.
“I don’t know whether they felt blindness was infectious or that I might injure myself, but they said they wouldn’t admit me,” he said.
Despite the setback, Sikanku’s parents remained determined to secure an education for him, eventually seeking alternative options.
His story highlights the persistent stigma and misconceptions surrounding persons with disabilities, even within educational spaces meant to promote inclusion and equal opportunity.
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