As part of activities marking this year’s International Week of the Deaf, the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD) convened a crucial Media Advocacy Forum in Accra on October 9, 2025, pressing for greater media accessibility and inclusion for the Deaf community.
Under the theme, “No Human Rights Without Sign Language Rights: What Role Will The Ghanaian Media Play In Ensuring Access To Information And Inclusion,” the forum aimed to raise awareness and foster vital partnerships to build a truly inclusive Ghana.
Representatives from major media houses, including GTV, GHOne, Adom TV, Onua TV, Ghana News Agency (GNA), and Daily Graphic, participated in the deliberations. They were joined by key stakeholders such as Telecel Ghana, the Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies (CDSA-UG) from the University of Ghana, and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD).
The forum featured interactive activities designed to provide participants with a firsthand understanding of the challenges faced by Deaf individuals.
The forum used creative ways to help people understand the importance of inclusion. First, everyone worked together to create a ‘Word Cloud’ – a collection of words that show what inclusion means to them. Then, they watched a video with the sound turned off and no subtitles. This showed everyone just how difficult it is for Deaf people to follow along when there’s no sign language or captions, making it clear that media must be accessible to all.
Speeches and targeted breakout sessions further explored actionable strategies.
GNAD’s leadership issued a strong call to both government and media houses, urging them to ensure the consistent use of sign language interpreters across all broadcasts and public programmes, rather than reserving them only for election campaigns or special events.
“Deaf people are Ghanaians too. If information is meant for the public, it must be made accessible to all, including the deaf community,” stated Seidu Mush Akugri, Programmes Manager at GNAD.
He emphasised that when the Deaf are excluded from vital information, their fundamental human rights are effectively silenced.
The forum concluded with a unified call to action: to collectively build a media space where no voice is left unheard and no story is told in isolation.
This collaborative effort is essential for creating a society where access to information is a right, not a privilege, for all Ghanaians.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
