The National Development Planning Commission (NDPC) and the Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWAC Ghana), have moved to deepen their collaboration, ensuring that the “Leave No One Behind” mantra becomes a functional reality in Ghana’s national agenda.
During a high-level engagement in Accra on April 13, 2026, the Director-General of the NDPC, Dr. Audrey Smock Amoah, underscored the importance of empathy in national planning.
She noted that because disability is a dynamic condition that can affect any citizen at any time, inclusive planning is not just a policy requirement but a constitutional necessity.
To back this commitment with action, the Commission has embedded specific strategies to tackle systemic inequalities within the 2026–2029 Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework.
The Director-General further emphasised the need to strengthen representation within decentralised planning structures.
She noted that for development to be truly equitable, the perspectives of persons with disabilities must be consistently reflected in decision-making at both regional and district levels.
VOWACGhana’s Technical Advisor, Beatrice Akua Mahmood, reminded the Commission that true inclusion requires accurate data.
She called for the introduction of disability-specific indicators in national reporting frameworks to ensure that progress can be measured and officials held accountable.
“While coordinating through umbrella bodies is useful, the NDPC must also engage directly with specialised organisations to truly understand and respond to the lived experiences of women and children with disabilities,” Madam Mahmood stated.
The meeting concluded with a reinforced commitment to the principle of participatory planning.
As VOWAC Ghana prepares a formal position paper to engage further with key ministries, the partnership signals a new era where the rights of women, children with disabilities, and their caregivers are at the heart of Ghana’s long-term development planning.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
