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 maiden African Allied Healthcare Summit in Accra on Friday, 24 July, Madam Bedwei, who lives with cerebral palsy, expressed deep-seated frustration with the 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 only begin to care about accessibility and inclusion when they, or a close relative, are personally affected by disability later in life.
The summit, organised by the Alexis Miranda Foundation (AMF) under the theme “Building the Allied Healthcare Ecosystem,” brought together practitioners from across the clinical spectrum, alongside academics, civil society organisations, Ghana’s Ministries of Education and Health, and disability advocates.
Photo Description: Participants in a group photo
The 2026 edition focused specifically on Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Addressing Madam Bedwei’s concerns regarding the lack of follow-up action, the Founder and Executive Director of AMF, Madam Lynn Dadzie-Yeboah, described the summit as a “movement” rather than a mere “talkshop.”
To ensure the discussions lead to sustained progress, Madam Dadzie-Yeboah announced the upcoming launch of a professional networking application.
The digital platform is designed to keep Africa-based and diaspora healthcare professionals engaged, ensuring that the goals set during the summit are tracked and executed.
“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 summit was attended by speakers and participants from six African countries – including Nigeria, Kenya, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Cameroon, and Ghana, as well as the United Kingdom.
The initiative aims to address critical challenges in Africa’s allied healthcare systems, such as limited workforce capacity, infrastructure deficits, and inequitable access to care.
It also seeks to tap into the expertise of the African diaspora, which organisers say remains a significant but under-utilised resource for the continent.
About the Organisers
The Alexis Miranda Foundation was established to increase global autism awareness and support families of children with learning disabilities.
Named after the daughter of the founder, the non-profit organisation provides professional advocacy, therapeutic programmes, and educational support to help children with disabilities reach their maximum potential within their communities.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
