Accra: ABAK Foundation Ghana, in partnership with Sightsavers Ireland and with funding from the European Union, has held a capacity-building workshop to equip Civil Society Organizations (CSOs). The project, titled 'Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana', brought together representatives from 20 districts across four regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, Bono, and Bono East, focusing on safeguarding gender mainstreaming, disability inclusion, and climate change.
According to Ghana News Agency, the goal was to strengthen the capacities of local organizations to effectively engage in advocacy and community-based initiatives that promote inclusion and equality for persons with disabilities, especially women. Mr. Philip Duah, Executive Director of ABAK Foundation Ghana, said the initiative aimed to empower downstream organizations to champion disability-inclusive development at the community level. He noted that the project is about strengthening the capacity of local organizations working with persons with disabilities to lead advocacy on climate change, inclusion, and safeguarding.
He added that they were training a total of 560 members across the 20 districts in four regions to ensure they had the knowledge and skills to engage their communities effectively. Mr. Duah emphasized the need for local authorities to include persons with disabilities in district-level decision making, particularly at the assembly level, and called for enforcement of accessibility laws in public spaces. He urged district assemblies to ensure transparency in the disbursement of the Disability Common Fund, stressing that the funds should directly benefit persons with disabilities.
Ms. Eugenia Kanyi, Regional Vice Chairperson of the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled in the Greater Accra Region, described the training as timely and empowering. She called on the government to expedite action on the long-pending Disability Bill and the Africa Disability Protocol Bill to improve accessibility and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities. Ms. Kanyi highlighted that although the President recently announced free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, most universities remain inaccessible. She expressed hope that the government will pass and implement these bills to make real change in education, employment, and social inclusion.
Ms. Ruth Atengdem, Programme Officer, Sightsavers Ireland, said the partnership between Sightsavers Ireland and ABAK Foundation represented a major step toward promoting disability inclusion and advocacy across the country. With a focus on capacity building, this project positions CSOs, especially women with disabilities, to thrive in an inclusive society. She added that by holding duty bearers accountable, these organizations will champion policies and programmes that prioritize the inclusion of persons with disabilities, driving a more equitable and responsive society.
