By Enock Akonnor (Managing Editor) enockakonnor2013@gmail.com
The Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) has intensified its advocacy for the full inclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in policy formulation and decision-making processes at both district and national levels.
As part of this drive, the Federation on Tuesday organized a capacity-building workshop at the SG Mall in Kumasi for policymakers drawn from various sectors and administrative levels.
The training aimed to strengthen the ability of participants to meaningfully incorporate disability inclusion into key areas such as education, employment, and health.
The initiative forms part of a three-year European Union-funded project being implemented by GFD in partnership with the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG) and the Africa Disability Institute (ADI).
The project seeks to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of disability inclusion and promote the development of inclusive governance structures across the country.
Speaking to journalists on the sidelines of the workshop, Doris Ndebugri, Programs Manager at GFD, stressed the need for PWDs to be actively involved in governance and policymaking rather than being passive consultees.
“Usually, what we see is that we are only consulted for certain things, but we are not brought into the actual participation to effectively offer our contributions,” she said.
“On many occasions, people speak on behalf of Persons with Disabilities. What we are saying is that there should be nothing about us without us. We need to be included and allowed to speak for ourselves because we have the experience and we know what we go through.”
Ms. Ndebugiri cited the formulation of the Affirmative Action Bill as an example of limited disability inclusion, noting that the absence of input from PWDs resulted in significant gaps that GFD later had to work to correct.
Echoing her sentiments, Evans Oheneba Mensah, Project Officer for GFD, emphasized that PWDs are often excluded from mainstream governance and policy discussions.
He said the organization’s ongoing interventions, including training and advocacy sessions, are designed to build the capacity of both policymakers and PWDs to ensure meaningful participation and representation.
“We have realized that Persons with Disabilities are not actually made part of governance. They are excluded from mainstream governance issues, hence the need for these capacity-building programs to facilitate their inclusion,” Mensah stated.
GFD and its partners expressed optimism that by the end of the project, stakeholders across all levels will have developed a stronger appreciation of disability inclusion, leading to concrete policy changes that reflect the needs and voices of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana.
About Project
It aims to enhance the institutional capacity of GFD and 16 other Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) to advocate for the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities in Ghana.
Project Focus
The initiative seeks to improve the participation of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in political and decision-making processes.
Key components include capacity building for GFD and member OPDs, strengthening advocacy efforts to influence policies, conducting a baseline study on OPD capacities, and ensuring PWDs’ voices are included in policy decisions and development processes.
This project supports the implementation of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) in Ghana.
Source; www.leakyGhana.com
Enock Akonnor is an experienced Ghanaian journalist, based in Kumasi and currently serves as the CEO and Managing Editor of www.leakyghana.com.
With a wealth of expertise built over many years in the media industry, he has earned a solid reputation as one of Ghana’s most sought-after journalists.
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