Global Disability Summit opens with a call for more awareness on Disability issues

Ms. Gertrude Oforiwaa Fefoame, Ghana’s representative at the United Nation’s Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) has called on Disabled Persons Organizations(DPOs) to intensify awareness creation at all levels

She said some government representatives or policy makers do not understand the role of the Disabled Persons organizations in the effective implementation of the CRPD hence the need for continuous awareness.

Ms. Fefoame made the call at the opening of Global Disability Summit a conference where disabled persons’ organizations and government has met to make commitments on the implementation of the rights of persons with disabilities

The Global Disability Summit will raise global attention on a long neglected area, mobilize new global and national commitments on disability inclusion and showcase good practice, innovation and evidence from across the world.

Ms. Fefoame who was part of a panel discussing the topic: Implementation of the CRDP: What Civil Society sees is needed to achieve full and effective implementation.”

She said decisions should not be made on behalf of persons with disabilities, parents of children with disabilities, women and girls with disabilities must all be involved in decision making.

“Awareness creation will ensure that policy makers get it right,” she said and added “Nothing for us without us”

Ms. Fefoame also expressed concern about how disability issues are fragmented in Ghana and called for a concerted effort that harmonized disability issues in Ghana.

Ms. Otiko Afisah Djaba, Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection who led a Ghanaian delegation to the summit will later be making a statement on Ghana’s commitment to the implementation of the CRDP

Ghana participates in Global Disability Summit

 Ghana is one of 12 countries participating in a summit dubbed “Global Disability Summit” a ground breaking event to transform the lives of persons with disabilities in developing countries.

The Summit which opens on Monday July 23 in London, UK, will cover a range of different issues relating to the inclusion of people with disabilities.

Ghana’s Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Ms Otiko Afisa Djaba who is leading Ghana’s delegation has committed to raise awareness among various stakeholder groups.

She said a communication strategy has been developed to ensure proper awareness on disability issues among all groups.

The Government of Ghana is also expected to commit to an amendment of the legal framework to which a technical committee from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies as well as Disabled Peoples Organizations and Civil Society Organizations has been constituted to lead the review.

Other organizations from Ghana include the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues, Basic Needs, a mental health organization and Mr Kwame Boohene, a Representative of the University of Cape Coast who are supported by the Department for International Development (DFID) and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO)

Other participants from Ghana include representatives of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations.

Among the themes to be discussed are dignity and respect for all: Creating new norms, tackling stigma and ensuring non-discrimination, Inclusive education, economic empowerment and harnessing technology and innovation.

Ghana International School PTA supports Cerebral Palsy Advocacy

The Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the Ghana International School has presented a cheque of 10,000 cedis to the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy to support their work

The Ghana International Schools (GIS) PTA organized a bazaar in February this year to raise funds for the Special Mothers Project; the activity is part of the PTA’s corporate social responsibility towards organizations that are making impacts in the lives of the vulnerable in society.

Madam Priscilla Gyasi, an Executive Member of the PTA who presented the cheque said it was the PTA’s way of giving back to society and also to inculcate in the students a sense of humanitarianism.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project who received the cheque expressing her gratitude said the money will enhance the advocacy programmes of the organization.

For the second half of the year, the Special Mothers Project will focus on creating awareness among various stakeholder groups including the media, staff of the department of social welfare, staff of the National Commission on Civic Education (NCCE), members of the legislature and other interested organizations.

The Special Mothers Project also organizes parents’ information seminar periodically for families raising children with cerebral palsy, the seminars provides an opportunity for such parents to meet, share encouragement  and experiences and empower themselves to advocate for their children.

Special Mothers Project calls on the First Lady to support children with cerebral palsy

The Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy has called on the First Lady, Mrs Rebecca Akufo-Addo to support children with cerebral palsy and their families

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Project said raising a child with cerebral palsy in Ghana can be challenging because of the lack of a concrete policy to support children with cerebral palsy.

She therefore urged the First Lady as a mother of the Nation,  to come on board and help enhance the lives of families raising children with cerebral palsy by dialoguing with parents of such children to know areas where government could help.

Mrs Awadzi said this when she made a cash presentation of 1500 Cedis , some food items and clothes to Kwabena a 14 year old boy with cerebral palsy that the project is supporting in school.

The Special Mothers Project’s attention was drawn to Kwabena Acquah, about three months ago after her mother passed on leaving him in the care of his 90 years old grandmother.

As an intervention strategy to provide him with quality care and educational support, the Special Mothers Project sought for a school in Accra where he can have access to quality care and education.

Mrs Ellen Affam-Dadzie, Executive Director of the With God Cerebral Palsy Ghana, an institution that has offered Kwabena place in their facility called for support from government.

She said: “We need the government, corporate organizations and individuals to support children with cerebral palsy and their families.”

The Centre, apart from educational support for children with cerebral palsy also provides physiotherapy and other forms of therapy for children with cerebral palsy.