In a career spanning two decades, one Ghanaian journalist has dedicated his life to advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities, transforming his journey from community radio to a leading digital news platform.
Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku, founder of DisabilityNewsGH.com and Adonai Studios, is marking 20 years of unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of people with disabilities in Ghana and beyond.
The journey began in February 2005 at Radio Ada, a community radio station where Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku, then a student journalist, joined an internship programme. Coincidentally, the Ghana Association of the Blind and the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled had partnered with the station to launch “Advocacy Through Radio,” a public education initiative.
“That experience at Radio Ada changed my life,” says Nii-Lartey Ayiku. “It opened my eyes to the challenges faced by people with disabilities and ignited a passion within me to fight for their rights.”
Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku immersed himself in every aspect of the project, from conducting community research to developing the program’s content. After completing the internship, he returned to Radio Ada as a full-time staff member, continuing to contribute to “Advocacy Through Radio” and reporting on disability issues for local newspapers.
However, in 2012, Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku took a temporary detour into filmmaking, completing a filmmaking course and honing his skills in visual storytelling. This experience proved pivotal in shaping his future approach to advocacy.
“Filmmaking allowed me to see the potential of using short films to raise awareness and change perceptions about disability,” explains Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku.
This realisation led to the creation of “THISABILITY” in 2019, a series of short films and documentaries that tackle various disability-related issues. Today, Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku leads DisabilityNewsGH.com, Ghana’s first and only disability news platform, and Adonai Studios, a social enterprise that pledges 30% of its earnings to disability rights advocacy.
Adonai Studios provides multimedia services, including film and television productions, documentaries, music videos, and event coverage. Through DisabilityNewsGH.com and Adonai Studios, Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku continues to engage in public education campaigns, provide assistive devices to persons with disabilities, and support the advocacy efforts of other organizations.
“We’ve engaged in several public education campaigns, particularly utilising social media platforms,” Nii-Lartey Ayiku says, “For instance, our “THISABILITY” initiative, which leverages short drama films and documentaries to educate the public on disability rights, and also distributes flyers to promote disability rights messages.”
Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku’s efforts have been widely recognised within the disability community in Ghana and beyond. With 20 years of dedication to disability rights advocacy, Benjamin Nii-Lartey Ayiku remains committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society for all.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
