Accra: Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of the Transformative Governance Cluster at UNDP, has highlighted ongoing challenges in Ghana, where systemic exclusion and inequality continue to hinder the full participation of women and girls with disabilities. He emphasized that disability inclusion is central to the credibility, effectiveness, and sustainability of national development efforts.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Ampratwum addressed these issues at a workshop organized by the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), with support from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). The workshop focused on key provisions of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and the Persons with Disabilities Act, Act 715. It aimed to empower women with disabilities for inclusive leadership and advocacy, bringing together participants from various organizations.
The initiative is part of ongoing efforts to strengthen advocacy, leadership, and inclusion of women and girls with disabilities in Ghana's development processes. It draws on a comprehensive Situational Analysis on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana, which provided an assessment of achievements and persistent gaps.
Dr. Ampratwum noted that UNDP's role extends beyond supporting capacity-building activities, positioning itself as a systems broker and convener. "We work with Government, Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, and development partners to help transform capacity into influence, advocacy into reform, and commitments into measurable outcomes," he stated.
Mr. Juventus Duorinaah, Executive Director of GNAD, emphasized the importance of building the capacity of women and girls with disabilities to empower them to claim their rights and assume leadership roles. He observed that limited confidence and persistent barriers continue to restrict their potential, underscoring the need for targeted support to advance inclusion.
Mr. Edwin Kweku Andoh, Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disability, added that women with disabilities face barriers limiting their participation in leadership and decision-making. The workshop aimed to equip them with tools to confidently assume leadership roles and advocate for their rights.
Ms. Bernice Yawo Agboda, a woman with albinism, shared her personal experience of being forced to drop out of school due to low vision. She explained that her need for extra support felt like begging for favor, ultimately leading her to discontinue her education.