Staff of Fidelity Bank interacts with Special Needs Mothers to celebrate Valentines day

Fidelity Bank,  Accra East Sector,  spent the morning of 14th February,  2024 Interacting with Mothers of children with disabilities 

The Mothers drawn from various disability groups shared their lived experiences with the staff of the Bank urging them to be involved in advocacy for support systems for them.

Mrs Hannah Awadzi,  Executive Director of the Special Mothers Project,  who chaired the event,  while commending the Bank for the initiative,  urged them to open their doors to learn about issues that affected children with disabilities. 

"Children with Disabilities are diverse,  there are children with Cerebral palsy, Autism, Down syndrome,  tourette syndrome among others who are all diverse and affected by similar but also unique issues,  she said.

Some of the Special Needs Mothers called on the bank and other corporate organisations to look into creating support systems for families. 

Support systems include having day care centres for children with disabilities as well as advocating for policies that will enhance the lives of families of children with disabilities.

Ms Lila Daisy Hagan, Branch Manager at the Ridge Towers branch of Fidelity Bank,  said as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility,  they wanted to pay attention to Mothers of children with disabilities since they are mostly neglected in the conversation around children with disabilities. 

The staff of Fidelity Bank served the Mothers a variety of dishes in addition to giving them parcels 

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) that coordinated the event also expressed their appreciation to Fidelity Bank and called on other corporate organisations to emulate the gesture

Introduce Measures to support families of persons with disabilities – Disability Manifesto

 

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has called on political parties to introduce measures to support families of persons with disabilities in their various manifestoes.

 

The GFD specifically called on political parties and policy makers to support those who act as informal carers, to support and empower them to manage their caring responsibilities, to remain active in employment, to maintain good health, and to have a life outside of caring.

 

Such measures, the GFD said, should also seek to prevent situations where family members with caring responsibilities are disadvantaged or discriminated against.

 

The Advocacy Committee of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) has spearheaded the development of a Disability Manifesto for the 2024 elections.

 

Mr Auberon Jeleel Odoom, Chairman of the Manifesto Committee told the Special Mothers Project, an advocacy and Awareness creation programme on Cerebral Palsy issues  that the manifesto will serve as a roadmap to guide policymakers and political leaders in formulating inclusive policies and implementing effective measures to ensure the full participation and empowerment of persons with disabilities in all aspects of Ghanaian society.

 

The manifesto also advocates for the establishment of comprehensive social protection programmes that provide financial support, healthcare, and other essential services to persons with disabilities, families affected by disability, and caregivers of persons with disabilities.

 

Mr Odoom said over the years, political parties have often not involved organizations of persons with disabilities in the development of their manifestoes, which mostly resulted in limited consideration for disability issues in their manifestoes.

 

“With the 2024 elections approaching, political parties must give due attention to the concerns and aspirations of this marginalized segment of society.”

 

The GFD's Disability Manifesto represents a collective effort to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Ghana and to chart a path toward greater inclusion and empowerment.

The Manifesto was arrived at through a nationwide process of consultation within the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations and its members, as well as its regional branches.

The Manifesto represents a collective effort to address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities in Ghana and to chart a path toward greater inclusion and empowerment, Mr Odoom Said.

The Special Mothers Project is an advocacy and awareness creation programme on cerebral palsy issues and issues affecting families of children with cerebral palsy. Share your issues with us