Renowned software engineer and disability rights advocate, Madam Farida Bedwei, has issued a stern challenge to the healthcare community to move beyond theoretical discussions and translate summit presentations into measurable improvements for persons with disabilities.
Delivering the closing keynote address at the inaugural African Allied Healthcare Summit 2026 in Accra on Friday, July 24, Madam Bedwei – who lives with cerebral palsy, expressed deep-seated frustration with the recurring cycle of seminars and workshops that fail to yield practical results.
“I have attended many of these events across Ghana and other parts of Africa, and I am even beginning to decline invitations,” she told the gathering of international delegates. “I am tired of speaking at events that do not lead to anything meaningful.”
Madam Bedwei directed much of her critique at the healthcare sector, suggesting that professionals in the field have not yet fully utilised their influential positions to champion the cause of the disability community.
She argued that the healthcare fraternity is uniquely positioned to act as powerful advocates, not only in shifting public perception but also in spearheading institutional reforms that enhance the daily lives of persons with disabilities.
“We all have roles to play,” she emphasised. “The work of advocacy should not be left solely to persons with disabilities and their families.”
She further warned the general public against apathy, noting that many individuals only begin to take an active interest in accessibility and inclusion when they, or a close relative, are personally affected by disability later in life.
Photo Description: Participants in a group photo
Convened by the African Allied Healthcare Network (AAHN) and powered by the Alexis Miranda Foundation (AMF), the summit operated under the theme “Building the Allied Healthcare Ecosystem.”
The landmark gathering was made possible through the principal sponsorship of Stanbic Bank Ghana.
Addressing Madam Bedwei’s call for concrete outcomes, the Founder and Executive Director of the Alexis Miranda Foundation, Madam Lynn Dadzie-Yeboah, described the summit as an intentional, purpose-built movement designed to catalyze real reform rather than serve as a mere “talkshop.”
To ensure the discussions lead to sustained progress, Madam Dadzie-Yeboah announced the upcoming launch of a dedicated networking application.
The digital platform will keep Africa-based and diaspora healthcare professionals continuously engaged to track and execute the goals set during the summit.
“Each year’s edition will focus on a different discipline within allied health,” Madam Dadzie-Yeboah told DisabilityNewsGH.com. “The idea is to elicit enough interest, policy shifts, and networks across Africa to truly advance the lot of persons with disabilities.”
The inaugural edition focused specifically on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), uniting healthcare professionals, researchers, policymakers, educators, advocates, and persons with lived experience from across Africa and the diaspora.
Delegates and speakers represented eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, Ghana, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
The initiative aims to tackle critical challenges confronting allied healthcare systems across Africa – such as limited workforce capacity, infrastructure deficits, and inequitable access to specialised care.
Crucially, the summit creates a structured platform to tap into the vast expertise of the African healthcare diaspora, a resource organisers say has historically remained under-utilised.
ABOUT THE ORGANISERS
African Allied Healthcare Network (AAHN)
The African Allied Healthcare Network is committed to advancing healthcare equity across the continent by fostering practical collaboration, knowledge exchange, and sustainable partnerships between Africa-based and diaspora healthcare professionals.
Alexis Miranda Foundation (AMF)
Established in 2002 to increase global autism awareness and support families of children with learning disabilities, the Alexis Miranda Foundation is a non-profit organisation dedicated to advancing disability inclusion, rehabilitation, and allied healthcare.
Named after the daughter of founder Madam Lynn Dadzie-Yeboah, the foundation provides comprehensive educational, therapeutic, and recreational programmes to help children with disabilities reach their full potential within their communities.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
