Winneba: Mr Auberon Jeleel Odoom, National Coordinator of Inclusion Ghana, has called on duty bearers and service providers to ensure that Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) have easy access to their facilities by removing potential barriers. He highlighted the importance of Article 5 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), which advocates for equal treatment of PWDs.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr Odoom made the call during a two-day Documents Dissemination workshop organized by Strengthening Partnerships to Advance Disability Rights in Africa (SPADRA), in partnership with Sweden Sverige, African Disability Forum, and Inclusion Africa held at Winneba. The workshop aimed at disseminating guidelines on the inclusion of women and girls with disabilities and Inclusive Education Toolkits, allowing participants to contribute inputs into the document.
The event saw the participation of various duty bearers, including representatives from CHRAJ, Social Welfare, Ghana Education Service, Parents, Civil Society Organisations, Organisation of Persons with Disability (OPD), and caregivers from GA West and Central Region. Attendees shared life experiences about the barriers hindering social protection, education, and justice for Women with Disabilities, Parents, and OPDs.
The SPADRA project is being implemented through the Pan-African Consortium of OPDs, which includes the African Disability Forum (ADR), Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA), and Inclusion Africa. It aims to enhance gender and disability rights in Africa by strengthening the capacity of OPDs and fostering cross-disability and mainstreaming partnerships at both Pan-African and national levels. The project specifically targets advancing gender and disability rights in Ghana, Benin, Malawi, and Zambia.
Mr Odoom emphasized the need to promote a shared vision of inclusion, train and support teachers, use flexible teaching strategies, provide early identification and support, improve physical accessibility, engage parents and the community, promote peer support and a positive school culture, offer support services, and strengthen school leadership. Monitoring and evaluating progress are crucial to addressing barriers that impede disability inclusion, especially for women and girls with disabilities.
According to Mr Odoom, inclusion is not merely about integrating a child with a disability into a regular classroom or a workplace; it involves transforming these environments to work for every citizen. The project champions inclusive education, advocating for equal learning opportunities for all, regardless of abilities, and is rooted in principles of fairness and justice with the goal of fostering a societal ethos where every person is recognized and valued.
The guide aims to inform social service providers, especially duty bearers at the local level, about key issues that create barriers for women and girls with disabilities to enjoy their rights to social services. It also provides practical measures for addressing these barriers, focusing on understanding the intersectionality of gender and disability, and promoting best practices for effective inclusion.
Mr Odoom stated that the document will further guide duty bearers, the private sector, civil society organizations, and advocates to implement the right measures to ensure inclusive services as outlined in Article 1 of the UN CRPD definition of PWDs. He noted that Women and Girls with disabilities across Africa face compounded obstacles, including cultural biases, limited healthcare access, and social expectations that impede their educational opportunities.
"Addressing these barriers necessitates a Gender-Disability Intersectional Lens, which acknowledges the unique struggles of this demographic and seeks to dismantle discriminatory practices," he added.