Accra: The Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organisation (WODAO) has honoured Mr James Gunu, Volta Regional Minister, with a citation in recognition of his commitment to promoting inclusive governance and advancing the rights of women and girls with disabilities in the Volta Region.
According to Ghana News Agency, the organisation commended the Minister for championing the inclusion of persons with disabilities in governance and development processes and for supporting initiatives aimed at ensuring that women and girls with disabilities realise their full potential for the collective advancement of the region.
The citation highlighted Mr Gunu's significant contributions to the successful implementation of WODAO's project, 'Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana.' The citation was presented by Madam Veronica Denyo Kofiedu, Founder and Executive Director of WODAO, on behalf of the Board and Management during a courtesy call at the Residency in Ho.
Madam Kofiedu expressed WODAO's commitment to collaborating with the Volta Regional Coordinating Council (VRCC) and other governmental bodies to promote disability-inclusive development across the region. She emphasized the importance of advancing inclusive education, women's economic empowerment, youth employment, digital inclusion, and policy implementation, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals.
She called for strengthened partnerships to ensure women and girls with disabilities are included in the region's development agenda, stating, 'We must work together to build a Volta region where no woman or girl with a disability is left behind.'
Madam Kofiedu also addressed the need for a permanent and accessible office space in Ho, explaining that WODAO currently operates from a shared office at the Africa Disability Institute, which has become inadequate for its operational demands. A dedicated office, she noted, would bolster service delivery, facilitate training, and enhance collaboration with government institutions.
Mr Gunu expressed gratitude to WODAO for the recognition and praised the organisation for its commitment to the rights of women and girls with disabilities. He assured continued support for disability-inclusive development and mentioned that the request for office accommodation was under formal consideration, with steps being taken to address it.
The Minister reiterated the VRCC's dedication to creating an inclusive society where all individuals, regardless of their physical condition, have equal opportunities to contribute to development.