Keta: The Keta Municipal Assembly, in the Volta Region, through its Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has officially inaugurated the Persons Living with Albinism Association (PLWA) in the municipality. The initiative marked a significant milestone in promoting the rights, inclusion, and well-being of persons living with albinism.
According to Ghana News Agency, the inauguration ceremony brought together persons living with albinism, officials of the Keta Municipal Assembly, the Municipal Health Directorate, members of the Disability Fund Management Committee, development partners, and other key stakeholders committed to disability inclusion. Mr. Robert Kotey Ashie, the Unit Head of the Department of Social Welfare, stated in an interview that the formation of the association provided a formal platform for persons living with albinism to organize themselves, advocate for their rights, and actively participate in decision-making processes affecting their lives.
Mr. Kotey highlighted that the association aims to strengthen access to support services and create opportunities for members to participate in future Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) elections and other leadership roles. The programme featured a keynote address delivered by Mr. Saviour Agbeviade on behalf of the Municipal Coordinating Director, reaffirming the Assembly's commitment to protect the rights of vulnerable groups within the municipality.
Mr. Mensah Djadoo, the Southern Volta Coordinator of the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA), addressed the participants on the challenges confronting persons living with albinism and the need for sustained advocacy and support. A health education session on skin care and eye protection was also included, aiming to equip members of the association with practical knowledge to safeguard their health, considering their heightened vulnerability to skin cancer and visual impairment.
Mr. Kotey noted that the occasion was also used to officially swear in the association's executives and members, formally introducing the leadership that would steer the newly formed body in the Keta Municipality. Mr. Godwin Etsey Adzipome, the Municipal Chairman of Persons with Disabilities, reaffirmed the Assembly's commitment to protect the rights and dignity of persons living with albinism. He emphasized promoting equal opportunities, social inclusion, and access to essential services for the group, while pledging continued collaboration with the association to advance disability inclusion in the municipality's development agenda.