Approximately 100 stakeholders from civil society organisations, disability groups, local government institutions, and the media gathered in Konongo, Ashanti Region, for a one-day Learning and Sharing Workshop focused on strengthening advocacy for the rights of persons with disabilities.
The engagement, organised by ABAK Foundation Ghana in partnership with Sightsavers Ireland and supported by the European Union, formed part of the project titled “Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana.”
The workshop aimed to share lessons from civil society capacity-strengthening trainings conducted over the past two years and to explore strategies for advancing disability inclusion in governance, development planning, and climate action.
Participants included representatives from civil society organisations, officials from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), community leaders and organisations of persons with disabilities.
Delivering a presentation at the event, Castro Kofi Appiah of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD) Amasaman branch, highlighted the importance of disability inclusion in national development and climate policies.
He noted that disability inclusion is a fundamental human right recognised under Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act as well as the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
Mr Appiah emphasised that climate change disproportionately affects persons with disabilities, stressing the need for their active participation in disaster preparedness, climate adaptation and decision-making processes.
“Persons with disabilities must not only be protected during climate emergencies but must also be involved in shaping solutions that strengthen community resilience,” he stated.
Participants also shared experiences from advocacy initiatives carried out under the project, including engagement with local assemblies to improve transparency and accountability in the management of disability funds.
Despite progress made, stakeholders identified challenges such as limited accessibility in public institutions, inadequate sign language interpretators and low public awareness of disability rights.
The workshop ended with a call for stronger partnerships among civil society organisations, government institutions and development partners to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in Ghana’s development and climate action agenda.
By Castro Kofi Appiah
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
