CSOs want an independent secretariat that addresses social protection issues

 Civil society actors are calling for an independent secretariat that addresses issues on social protection in Ghana.

The civil society organizations say there is the need to de-politicize social protection issues that offer a stronger legal framework for the benefit of the vulnerable in society.

The issues came up at a meeting organized by Civil Society Platform for Social Protection – Ghana and the Friedrich Ebert Foundation to solicit inputs and look at strategies to advocate the passage of Ghana’s Social Protection Bill.

Social protection covers the range of policies and programmes needed to reduce the lifelong consequences of poverty and exclusion

Dr Stephen Afranie, a senior lecturer at the Centre for Social Policy Studies, University of Ghana, took participants through the proposed Social Protection Bill, calling on civil society organizations to work together to ensure the passage of the bill into law.

He noted that Ghana has implemented some Social Protection initiatives since independence times but the policies are usually scattered and makes monitoring difficult.

Dr Afranie mentioned the Free Senior High School programme, the Metro Mass Transit buses, National Health Insurance Scheme and the Livelihood Empowerment against Poverty Programme (LEAP) among others as some social protection programmes that had benefitted various vulnerable groups in Ghana

Among the recommendations in the proposed Social Protection Bill is the need for the  government to extend social protection programmes to cover caregivers of beneficiary groups especially persons with disabilities and the aged.

Participants at the workshop agreed to engage in advocacy that aims at improving the lives of the vulnerable in society

Mr David Norden Botwe, Chairman of the Civil Society Platform for Social Protection – Ghana, said the goal for social protection must aim at lifting people out of poverty and making them productive citizens.

Once adopted the law will provide a legal, regulatory and financial framework to secure social protection for Ghana’s most vulnerable population.

Pay attention to issues affecting children with cerebral palsy – Otiko Djaba to Government

Madam Otiko Djaba, a Disability advocate, has called on the government to pay attention to issues affecting especially mothers of children with cerebral palsy.

She said: “These mothers go through a lot of stress and frustrations and I fear for a future where the mothers may not be there and the children are left to die.

Ms. Djaba who is also the founder of Henry Djaba Foundation, a disabled based organization, made the call when she hosted some mothers of children with cerebral palsy as part of World Cerebral Palsy day.

World CP Day is celebrated on the 6^th of October every year to draw attention to issues affecting people with cerebral palsy.

This year’s celebration is on the theme: Millions of Reasons, calling on people to celebrate persons with cerebral palsy for the millions of reasons they need to be celebrated.

Ms. Djaba lamented that it is as a matter of urgency that government should act, by creating rehabilitation centres, ensuring that schools implemented the inclusive education policy and work on creating a good social support system that helped mothers with trained caregivers.

Ms. Emelia Gynkel Bawa, an Executive member of the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy programme on cerebral palsy issues, called on government to include the medications given to children with cerebral palsy in the National Health Insurance scheme.

She also called on the general public to show empathy and accept children with cerebral palsy, saying, “those children are not cursed, they are blessed and need to be loved.”

Adopt a different approach to manage neurodevelopmental disabilities – Trainer

A training programme for rehabilitation professional working with children with Neurodevelopmental disabilities on Monday opened with a call for professionals to look for a new approach to managing such disabilities

Mr Kees Van Den Broek, Former Director of Liliane Foundation, a Netherlands based organization, said the same approach that was used in the 80s to manage orthopedic conditions such as club foot, polio etc. is the same approach being used to manage recent complex disabilities.

He said: “There is the need for a different approach to managing neurodevelopmental disabilities which focuses on the wellbeing of the child and the family and centers on the role of parents.

The training programme, the first of its kind, is hosted by the Salvation Army Ghana and Togo Territory in partnership with the University of Education, Winneba with support from Cerebral Palsy Africa.

Participants were from Ghana, Uganda, DR Congo

Dr Colonel Samuel Amponsah, Territorial Commander of the Salvation Army Ghana, noted that there seems to be a shortage of competent rehabilitation specialists when it comes to managing some neurodevelopmental disabilities such as cerebral palsy.

He therefore lauded the training and urged participants to take the training seriously and endeavor to make a difference in the lives of children with neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Captain Kwesi Eyi Acquah, Presiding Member of the Effutu Constituency who represented the Member of Parliament for the area Mr Alexander Afenyo -Markin, pledged the MP’s commitment and support towards children’s neurodevelopmental disabilities.

Major Agartha Essel, Director in charge of Medical, social and community services at the Salvation Army, urged participants to be open minded to embrace the new thinking of the training officers.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi, Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project, said it was important that therapists and rehabilitation professionals embrace a new way of engaging parents in their approach to managing cerebral palsy and other neurodevelopmental conditions.

Ms Annelove Prempeh, Mother of an 18-year-old Lady with cerebral palsy shared her experiences with the participants

Mr Norden Botwe, Executive Director of SWEB Foundation, a disability based non-governmental organization, who chaired the opening ceremony said the training programme was innovative.

He called on stakeholders to work together

Neurodevelopmental disabilities are a group of disabilities that affect the development of the nervous system, leading to abnormal brain function which may affect  movement, emotion, learning ability, self-control, and memory.