The amputee community and their allies took to the streets of Accra on Tuesday, April 28, to mark AmputeeAwareness Month, culminating in a formal petition to the Ministry of Gender, Children, and Social Protection.
The presentation of the petition was preceded by an awareness walk through several major streets of the capital. Marchers carried placards and engaged with the public to highlight the systemic challenges faced by amputees in Ghana.
The walk served a triple purpose: to create national awareness, to solicit urgent support from the government and the general public, and to call for a fundamental change in societal attitudes toward persons with limb loss.
Receiving the petition on behalf of the government, the Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, assured the group that their grievances would be prioritised at the highest level of leadership.
“On behalf of His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, President of the Republic of Ghana, I receive this petition and I give you my full assurance that His Excellency, through the Ministry, is going to work on these issues and give you feedback,” the Minister stated.
Speaking after the march, the Founder of Smiles of Hope, Madam Valeria Adzo Adzatia, noted that the demonstration was a vital step in bringing visibility to a community that has long been overlooked.
Her organisation was the amputee support and empowerment initiative that organised the walk.
“Our work consistently reveals critical systemic gaps that extend beyond medical treatment,” the petition stated. “We marched today because society needs to change its attitude. Amputees are not seeking charity – they are seeking dignity, independence, and equal opportunity.”
Since 2019, Smiles of Hope has directly supported over 2,000 amputees through psychosocial counseling and vocational training.
However, the organisation warns that without state-level policy changes, thousands more will remain trapped in cycles of poverty and emotional distress.
Key Demands: Health, Mental Well-being, and Data
The petition presented to the Ministry outlines six critical policy recommendations to transform the lives of amputees:
1. National Prosthetic Support Scheme: The group is calling for prosthetic care to be integrated into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) or for the introduction of government subsidies to make artificial limbs affordable.
2. Mandatory Counseling Protocols: The petition demands that hospitals institutionalise professional and peer counseling both before and after amputation surgery to combat high rates of depression and trauma.
3. National Amputee Registry: The absence of a comprehensive database has led to non-evidence-based interventions. The group wants a national registry to inform healthcare and social protection policies.
4. Economic Empowerment: The petition seeks targeted vocational training and access to startup grants to move amputees from dependency to financial independence.
5. Infrastructure Enforcement: Marchers highlighted the daily struggle with inaccessible public transport and buildings, calling for strict enforcement of existing disability laws.
6. Community-Based Rehabilitation: The group urged the Ministry to fund grassroots organisations that provide outreach to amputees in rural and underserved areas.
The walk and subsequent petition highlight a growing movement demanding that Ghana becomes a leader in inclusive rehabilitation across Africa. Smiles of Hope reiterated that limb loss should not result in social or economic death.
“We welcome the opportunity for dialogue and collaboration to transform the lives of amputees,” the petition concluded. “With deliberate policy action, we can ensure that every Ghanaian, regardless of physical ability, has a fair chance to shine.”
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
