Mr. Courage Wormenor, who served as the immediate past Vice President of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD), has been elected as the association’s new national president, unseating his former boss, incumbent President Mr. Mathew Annor. Mr. Annor, who was seeking a second term, was defeated as Wormenor secured a decisive victory, polling 78 votes to Annor’s 48, at the national delegates conference held recently in Damongo, in the Savannah Region.
The national delegates conference also saw the election of other key national executives, who will serve alongside President Wormenor in guiding the GSPD for the coming four years. The newly elected officials include:
• Vice President: Philip Kwasi Mensah
• Secretary: Emmanuela Elizabeth Nimo
• National Women’s Wing Secretary: Deborah Anane Adjei
• Financial Secretary: Nderago Donkor Zacchaeus
• National Sports Wing Chairperson: Charles Ezekiel Obo
• National Sports Wing Secretary: Betty Gharbin
• National Women’s Sports Wing Chairperson: Gladys Agbenu
• National Sports Wing Financial Secretary: Fatimatu Moro
• National Women’s Wing Media & Communication Officer (M.C.O): Miriam Akosua Twumwaa
• National Women’s Wing Vice Chairperson: Hawa Bawa
• Media and Communication Officer: Ellah Ametor
• National Sports Wing Chairperson: Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe
Mr. Wormenor now holds a four-year mandate to lead the charge in improving the welfare and advancing the rights of persons with physical disabilities across the country. His victory was propelled by a comprehensive manifesto, titled “Empowering Inclusion, Advancing Rights,” which resonated deeply with delegates.
A Manifesto for Change
Wormenor’s vision centers on a multi-pronged approach to leadership, emphasising both internal organisational strengthening and external advocacy. His key pledges include:
• Inclusive Governance: Ensuring diverse representation and participation in GSPD’s decision-making processes.
• Advocacy: Strengthening partnerships with key stakeholders to champion disability-friendly policies and practices at all levels.
• Empowerment: Providing targeted training, essential resources, and robust support to enhance the skills and independence of GSPD members.
• Accessibility: Actively promoting accessible infrastructure, transportation systems, and communication channels nationwide.
• Accountability: Upholding transparency, accountability, and the effective management of organizational resources.
A critical policy commitment highlighted by Mr. Wormenor is his pledge to liaise with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MOGSP) to fast-track work on the Disability Amendment Bill.
This vital legislative update aims to, among other things, enable workers with disabilities to retire on their allowances, and to ensure they fully enjoy essential medical and rent allowances, a long-standing demand from the community.
To bolster GSPD’s operational capacity, Mr. Wormenor has pledged significant reforms in Resource Mobilisation. This includes fostering partnerships with organisations such as the Youth Entrepreneurship Agency (YEA) and the National Service Secretariat to provide crucial staffing support.
He further committed to exploring employment opportunities for two dedicated GSPD staff members to drive the association’s mission forward.
A pivotal commitment is the establishment of a dedicated Research, Policy, and Employment Desk. This desk will serve as a vital hub for informing advocacy efforts, promoting employment opportunities, and driving policy changes that directly benefit persons with disabilities.
Recognising the value of experience, his manifesto proposes the establishment of a Council of Elders, comprising wise and experienced individuals to offer guidance, mentorship, and strategic advice to GSPD leadership and members.
In a move towards greater efficiency and local autonomy, Mr. Wormenor plans to implement Decentralised Governance. This will empower regional chairpersons to chair and manage regional institutions, such as training centers, with direct reporting lines to the President, thereby enhancing regional efficiency and accountability.
Furthermore, Empowering Regional Resource Mobilisation will allow regional chairpersons to raise funds through dues and sponsorships, with 20% allocated to the head office, ensuring transparency in management.
Specialised Wings and Programmes for Targeted Support
Beyond broad organisational reforms, Mr. Wormenor’s manifesto also details the establishment of specialised wings and programmes designed to address the specific needs of different groups within the physically disabled community:
• Women’s Wing: This programme will focus on empowering women with disabilities through training, mentorship, and support. It aims to create a platform for sharing experiences, advocate for policies addressing their unique needs, and collaborate with organisations promoting women’s rights.
• Workers’ Union: This specialised wing will advocate for the rights of workers with disabilities, provide training for skills enhancement, and collaborate with employers and trade unions to foster inclusive workplaces. A key objective is to advocate for employment opportunities and work closely with the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) to find a lasting solution for the registration of workers with disabilities.
Crucially, Mr. Wormenor also pledged to work with stakeholders to ensure disability allowances for physically challenged workers are paid promptly by CAGD and to replace the current requirement for a “medical board report” with a simpler “medical report” in the regulations governing these payments, making access easier.
• Youth Wing: This programme aims to establish a Youth Empowerment Programme focused on training, mentorship, and support for young people with disabilities. It will create a platform for them to share experiences, advocate for policies addressing youth-specific needs, and collaborate for broader youth development initiatives.
• Sports Wing: A Sports Development Programme will be established to promote sports opportunities, provide training and support for athletes with disabilities, collaborate for inclusive sports and disability-friendly facilities, and advocate for greater accessibility and inclusion in the world of sports.
Implementation Strategy and Pledge
Mr. Wormenor outlined a clear implementation strategy for his ambitious agenda, which includes actively engaging with members, stakeholders, and partners, developing and implementing strategic plans, and continuously monitoring progress to evaluate impact.
Concluding his address, the newly elected president offered a personal pledge to the GSPD membership and the wider community: “I pledge to listen, learn, and serve with dedication and commitment. Let’s work together to build a more inclusive and equitable society.”
Mr. Wormenor’s election marks a new chapter for the GSPD, with a clear and ambitious mandate from delegates to pursue a more inclusive, empowered, and accountable future for persons with physical disabilities in Ghana.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
That’s great
I mr timothy arhinsah thank God the almighty for everything He( God) has done for us for providing us with heavenly blessings. Strength power courage, honesty, wisdom, harmony and above all liberty to vote and selected mr wormenpr to be our national president lead us this four years ahead us, and to bring us together us we used to. I do hope this newly elected president can help us to achieve whatever we need as Ghana society of physically disabled associations of Ghana 🇬🇭.