Wisdom Kwadwo Mprah, Ph.D., a distinguished academic at the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), has made history as Ghana's first deaf professor, paving the way for greater inclusion and opportunity for people with disabilities across West Africa.

Reflecting on his humble beginnings, Prof. Mprah shared his educational journey. "My primary school was under trees in the Oti Region. I later attended Krachi Secondary School and continued at Okuapemman Secondary School. I pursued my first and second degrees at the University of Cape Coast (UCC)," he recalled.

However, his path to success was not without its challenges. During his Master’s degree, Prof. Mprah faced a life-changing challenge—he became deaf just as he was nearing the completion of his studies. Despite this, he remained determined to continue his academic pursuit. To overcome the difficulties brought on by his impairment, he made the bold decision to learn sign language. "People didn’t know how to deal with my condition. I decided to go to Mampong School for the Deaf to learn sign language," he said.

Prof. Mprah’s academic career took a significant leap forward when he received a scholarship to study in the United States. He earned a Ph.D. in Disability Studies from the University of Illinois at Chicago, and upon returning to Ghana, he joined KNUST as a lecturer in 2013.

His work has focused extensively on mental and reproductive health for persons with disabilities, particularly those who are deaf. As a pioneer in mental health research for the disabled community, Prof. Mprah has highlighted a critical issue: the confusion between behaviors stemming from deafness and those stemming from mental health challenges. “Many people cannot differentiate between behavior caused by my deafness and behavior caused by mental health issues. They often attribute my actions to my disability rather than mental health,” he explained.

His groundbreaking research led to the development of new sign language terms for mental health conditions among persons with disabilities, helping to better address their unique needs. "We developed different signs for mental health conditions among the disabled," he noted.

Prof. Mprah's promotion to professor is a historic moment, not only for him but for the entire deaf community. His achievement challenges the stereotypes and misconceptions often associated with people who are deaf. "This has proven that deaf people can also succeed. Associating speech with intelligence is wrong. Those who are born deaf can thrive if they have access to the right resources and support. With the right push, they can become whatever they aspire to be," he affirmed.

An advocate for students with disabilities, Prof. Mprah encourages them to pursue their dreams. "A deaf person can become a lawyer, a professor, anything they want to be, as long as the systems are in place to support them. With the right push, they can achieve their goals," he emphasized.

While praising KNUST for its efforts to create a more inclusive environment, Prof. Mprah also stressed the need for continued progress in providing resources for students and faculty with disabilities. "The university is already doing a lot to support persons with disabilities, but we need more interpreters for deaf students and more resources for the blind, including access to braille. Additionally, improving roads and pavements to be more disability-friendly will help those with mobility challenges. These are the things we need, but KNUST has been doing well," he said.

Looking ahead, Prof. Mprah is committed to continuing his work in advocating for education and healthcare improvements for people with disabilities, championing a society where everyone has an equal chance to succeed.

Source: Joy Online