By Isaac Frimpong (Ph.D.)
Many disabilities are invisible, making them difficult for others to understand. This lack of visibility often leads to misconceptions, judgement, and discrimination.
Among these hidden disabilities is stammering (or stuttering), a speech disorder that affects fluency, making verbal communication a challenge for millions worldwide.
In Ghana, people who stammer often face stigma, ridicule, and exclusion in schools, workplaces, and social settings.
While medical professionals can explain the neurological and physiological causes of stammering, this article focuses on its social impact in Ghana.
Inspired by an article by Anthony Manu of Multimedia Group, the advocacy efforts of the Ghana Stammering Association (GSA), and my own experience, this article seeks to explore how stammering is treated in Ghanaian society, the struggles individuals face, and the urgent need for education and empathy.
The Reality
Anthony was right; for many people, speaking is simple. But for those who stammer, every conversation can feel like a battle, where their thoughts move faster than their ability to express them.
Most often, words get stuck, syllables are repeated, or speech stops suddenly and unexpectedly, making it difficult for the listener to stay engaged. Unfortunately, many people react with impatience, laughter, or outright mockery rather than offering support.
Children who stammer are particularly vulnerable. In Ghanaian schools, where class participation and oral expression are highly valued, students with speech difficulties may face bullying, discrimination, and exclusion.
Teachers, often unequipped to identify and handle speech disorders, may unknowingly contribute to a child’s struggles by forcing them to speak in front of peers or penalising them for their hesitation.
This can lead to low self-esteem, school dropouts, and social withdrawal. Similarly, parents may resort to punishment by forcing their children to speak instead of encouraging and helping them improve.
Cultural and Social Perceptions
Stammering in Ghana is often misunderstood. Some traditional beliefs attribute it to spiritual causes, leading families to seek herbal remedies, spiritual interventions, or prayer camps rather than speech therapy.
Others see it as a sign of nervousness, lack of intelligence, or even a curse. These misconceptions shape how society treats individuals who stammer, making it harder for them to receive the support they need.
In social settings, adults who stammer may face ridicule from friends, exclusion from public speaking opportunities, and difficulties in personal relationships.
Many individuals struggle with anxiety, self-doubt, and even depression due to repeated negative experiences. This can make it difficult to pursue careers that require verbal communication, leading to economic disadvantages and reduced career opportunities.
Workplace Challenges and Discrimination
The workplace is another arena where people who stammer face significant barriers. In Ghana, where psychological safety at the workplace is almost non-existent and leaders always have their say and way without repercussions, stammers may feel attacked not based on their work output but by their inability to speak effortlessly.
Further, where effective communication is often equated with competence and leadership, job applicants who stammer may be overlooked for roles that involve public speaking, customer service, or managerial responsibilities. Even those who secure employment may find themselves excluded from meetings, ignored in discussions, or passed over for promotions.
Additionally, some workplaces foster a culture of mockery, where colleagues imitate or joke about a person’s speech difficulties. This further erodes confidence and reinforces the belief that individuals who stammer are less capable than their peers.
The Role of Media and Entertainment
Media and entertainment play a powerful role in shaping public perceptions, yet stammering is often misrepresented in Ghanaian films, TV shows, and comedy skits. Many comedians imitate stammering for laughs, reducing a serious condition to mere entertainment. While this may seem harmless, it reinforces negative stereotypes and contributes to a culture of insensitivity.
Few public figures in Ghana openly discuss their experiences with stammering, which further limits awareness and advocacy. Greater representation of individuals who stammer in media, politics, and leadership could help change societal attitudes and inspire those struggling with speech disorders.
Stammering and Mental Health
Beyond the physical difficulties of speaking, stammering has a profound psychological impact. Many individuals experience anxiety, frustration, and depression due to years of ridicule and exclusion. Social isolation is common, as people who stammer may avoid situations where they have to speak, fearing embarrassment.
In extreme cases, the mental distress caused by stammering can lead to anger issues, withdrawal from social life, and difficulties in forming relationships. More attention needs to be given to the mental health aspects of stammering, with better access to counselling and peer support groups.
Breaking the Cycle
Stammering does not define a person’s intelligence, capabilities, or worth. However, many who stammer face social stigma and exclusion instead of understanding and support. Addressing this requires a shift in societal attitudes and better access to intervention.
In Ghana, the Ghana Stammering Association (GSA) has been instrumental in advocacy, raising awareness, and pushing for improved resources. It also leads efforts to mark International Stuttering Awareness Day on October 22. However, despite this progress, access to professional speech therapy remains limited and expensive.
Most government hospitals and schools lack specialised speech therapists, depriving children of early intervention. Private clinics offer speech therapy services, but the high cost makes it inaccessible to many. This gap leaves countless individuals without adequate support.
What can be done?
Education and Awareness: Schools should integrate speech disability awareness programmes into their curriculum. Teachers should be trained on how to support students who stammer rather than punishing or ignoring them. Open acceptance and discussion of public figures’ experiences with stammering would help.
Workplace Inclusion: Employers should create inclusive environments by offering equal opportunities, avoiding bias in recruitment, and fostering supportive communication cultures.
Media Responsibility: Comedians, filmmakers, and TV producers should be mindful of how they portray stammering, ensuring they do not reinforce harmful stereotypes.
Community Support: Religious and community leaders should help combat stigma by educating their followers about the realities of stammering and promoting acceptance rather than superstition.
Conclusion
Stammering is not just a speech disorder; it is a social issue that affects education, employment, relationships, and mental health. In Ghana, people who stammer continue to face discrimination and exclusion, but this does not have to be the norm. Through awareness, empathy, and systemic change, we can build a society where people who stammer are respected, supported, valued, and given equal opportunities.
Our response to stammering should reflect our humanity, not through stigma but through understanding and action. It is time to listen, learn, and lead with kindness. Stammering should not define a person’s future; our collective effort should create a more inclusive and equitable society for everyone.
The writer is a Researcher and Consultant
