Accra: Stakeholders in the Anloga District have participated in a district-level advocacy and awareness-raising programme aimed at promoting disability-friendly policies and laws. The engagement, held on Friday, January 23, at the Anloga District Assembly, brought together key actors to deepen understanding of disability inclusion and strengthen advocacy for the rights of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) within the district and beyond.
According to Ghana News Agency, Madam Elikplim Klu, Regional President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), outlined the objective of the initiative in her welcome address. She stated that the project seeks to strengthen the capacity of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to effectively promote inclusion in Ghana. Despite progress over the years, persons with disabilities face significant barriers hindering their full participation in society, including challenges in education, employment, healthcare, and governance.
Madam Suzzy Sogbaka, Monitoring and Evaluation Officer at the Africa Disability Institute (ADI), presented on the legal and policy frameworks governing disability issues in Ghana. Key instruments such as the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) were highlighted, along with persistent challenges in their implementation. She emphasized the media's role in fostering a disability-friendly environment and urged media practitioners to promote positive, rights-based reporting.
Participants with disabilities shared personal experiences, providing practical insights into the daily challenges they face and the gaps in service delivery and inclusion. The forum generated recommendations for sustaining a disability-friendly environment at community and institutional levels. The project is spearheaded by the GFD, in partnership with the ADI and the Mental Health Society of Ghana, with funding support from the European Union.
Approximately 30 participants benefited from the programme, including leaders of PWD Associations in the Anloga District and officials from various governmental and non-governmental organizations. Mama Dzotsi II, who chaired the programme, commended the initiative and pledged to extend disability inclusion education to traditional council members and gatherings within the district. The Department of Social Welfare in Anloga District has made progress in promoting inclusion for PWDs, but efforts require intensified sensitisation and public education to address existing gaps.