Contested perspectives of ‘marvel’ and ‘mockery’ in disability and sport: Accra, Ghana

Abstract

In the past, persons with disabilities and the relationship between disability and sports were excluded from discussions of development. Within the past 15 years, however, there has been a proliferation of ‘development through sport’ initiatives and a widespread promotion of the intended and unintended outcomes of participation in sport for persons living in low- and middle-income countries. From the vantage point of development studies, and drawing on qualitative research methods, this article examines sport as a vehicle for the human development of persons with disabilities in a Ghanaian community. It presents the athletes as active agents, and highlights their engagement in daily struggles and strategies to be respected and recognized in both sport and society, as well as links their efforts to questions of marvel and mockery. The setting is the city of Accra, Ghana, and the athletes are female and male athletes of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled.