Officials of The Challenged Foundation unveiled the IBP policy
As part of its efforts to promote the rights of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) across Africa, the Director of The Challenged Foundation, Seth Lasidji, stated that the organisation is committed to ensuring these rights are respected and enforced.
He noted that, while disability rights in Africa are often well-drafted, formally endorsed, and widely publicised, their implementation and enforcement remain a significant challenge.
In response, the group has introduced the initiative to compel authorities and institutions to enforce these rights, ensuring that PWDs are actively involved in social, economic, and political activities to realise their potential.
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Speaking at the launch at the University of Ghana on the theme; “Africa Disability Protocol: Ratification, Implementation and Accountability”, Lasidji explained the motivation behind the project:
“The Africa Disability Protocol was adopted to change this reality. It provides a continental framework to protect the rights and dignity of PWDs, address discrimination, and promote full participation in social, economic, and political life. However, years after its adoption, many African states are yet to ratify it. Even where ratification has occurred, implementation remains weak, and accountability mechanisms are either absent or ineffective. This gap between commitment and action is the reason we are here today.
“We are launching Inclusion Beyond Policy because inclusion cannot stop at signatures on paper. True inclusion must be felt in accessible schools, dignified employment, inclusive healthcare, barrier-free public spaces, and meaningful participation in governance. Without deliberate enforcement, the Africa Disability Protocol risks becoming another well-intentioned document with little impact on everyday lives,” he stressed.
The group also launched a petition calling for the enforcement of national disability laws in Ghana and across the African continent.
They urged all citizens to sign the petition to help push the agenda for the inclusion of PWDs in society.
SB/MA
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