Disability they say is inability and that has been the compelling mantra for MS Hawa Ibrahim. Being physically challenged shouldn’t limit you to achieving whatever you want to do in life.
Like many others, we all had hopes of becoming lawyers, doctors and pilot. But all these dreams shuttered at the age of 12 when she lost her sight due to glaucoma, a medical condition that may steal your eyes away like how the early dew soak your attire without you knowing.
Someone who has seen the beautiful nature of the world and didn’t need the assistance of anyone to walk around now has her future turned around as a result of being blind.
Her story shows a true character of perseverance, success and the subtle discrimination against the physically challenged.
Hawa recounted her ordeal and how she has been able to make it this far in life in an interview with the morning show host of Sky Fm-Lantam Papanko.
I didn’t really know what was happening to me till I lost my sight completely one fateful Friday afternoon. When it all started my family members said I was stubborn since I had difficulty in finding things whenever I was sent to bring something from the room.
But it wasn’t so, they had no idea of what I was going through. When I lost my sight, I lost all hope and felt my world had totally come to an end. My mother didn’t understand what was happening to me and everybody around me thought I was faking, but you ask yourself how can a twelve year old be playing with something as serious as this, she said rhetorically.
I just had to accept my new life even though it has not been easy. I lost my friends, I couldn’t go out to play anymore. My entire world came crushing down. In all these I didn’t give up, I had to prepare for the task ahead since I was bent on achieving my dream as a journalist. And here I am today in the studios sharing my story she said.
Hawa is currently in her 3rd year at the University of Ghana studying sociology and social works. Even though she can’t see, she is the best researcher I have ever come across, she knows her way around the internet, uses a smart phone, chats on Facebook and all other social media platforms.