In a night that celebrated grassroots transformation and unwavering resilience, Madam Valeria Adzo Adzatia has been crowned the overall winner of the 2026 JoyNews Impact Makers Awards.
The Founder of Smiles of Hope, an organisation championing the rights and well-being of amputees in Ghana, emerged as the night’s most celebrated figure.
In a historic first, she secured the newly introduced Disability and Social Inclusion award before beating competition from eleven other formidable contenders to be named the Ultimate Winner of the year.
The prestigious event was held at the Labadi Beach Hotel on Friday, 15 May, with Deputy Chief of Staff, Nana Oye Bampo-Addo as the Special Guest of Honour.
The addition of the Disability and Social Inclusion category this year marks a significant milestone for the awards, highlighting a growing national commitment to recognising initiatives that foster dignity and equality for persons with disabilities.
The recognition highlights the profound social impact of Smiles of Hope, particularly its comprehensive psychosocial support and rehabilitation programmes for amputees across Ghana.
Through peer counselling, hospital and home visits, support groups, community education, and economic empowerment initiatives, the organisation has supported thousands of amputees and their families to rebuild confidence and reintegrate into society.
What distinguishes Valeria’s work is the deeply personal “lived experience” behind it. As an amputee herself, she has spent years building a support system that combines empathy with practical advocacy.
“I understand the emotional trauma, stigma, and challenges that come with limb loss. This is not just charity work for me; it is deeply personal,” she explained.
Her organisation has achieved these milestones consistently despite limited resources and operating without a physical office space for several years.
In an interview with DisabilityNewsGH.com, Madam Adzatia emphasised that these awards – while providing significant visibility and partnership opportunities – are a reminder to scale up their efforts.
“For us at Smiles of Hope, this award is not the end; it is a reminder that there is still a lot more work to be done,” she said. “We want to expand our reach to support more amputees across the country, strengthen our hospital partnerships, recruit and train more peer counsellors, and improve our economic empowerment programmes.”
Reflecting on the personal significance of the night, she added: “This award validates a journey that started from pain and a desire to ensure that no amputee feels alone. It reflects years of sacrifice, resilience, and service. It tells our team, volunteers, and partners that the work matters and is being seen. Most importantly, it gives hope to amputees that their stories and lives matter.”
The JoyNews Impact Makers Awards is an initiative that highlights individuals and organisations creating meaningful social impact across Ghana.
Since its inception in 2023, the awards have sought to recognise those whose work transforms lives and solves social problems despite significant challenges.
Now in its fourth edition, the awards continue to create visibility for grassroots initiatives that often do important work quietly and with limited resources.
By honouring Valeria Adzatia with both the maiden Disability and Social Inclusion prize and the ultimate award of the night, the initiative has spotlighted the critical importance of inclusion in the national development agenda.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
