The Disability and Social Development Advocacy Africa (DaSDA Africa), also known as Positive Impact, has urged the government to make deliberate provisions for persons with disabilities and ratify the African Disability Protocol, a human rights treaty aimed at addressing discrimination against people with disabilities across Africa.
The call was made during the launch of a 12-month advocacy project promoting the African Disability Protocol and the rights and freedoms of women with disabilities.
The event took place on Tuesday, July 29, at Anyinam in the Atiwa East District of the Eastern Region.
The project, titled “Advocacy and Sensitisation Exercise to Promote the African Disability Protocol: The Rights and Freedoms of Women with Disability,” is being spearheaded by DaSDA Africa in collaboration with Rev. Perpetual Essel-Cobbah, Minister in Charge of the Methodist Church, Anyinam.
Speaking at the launch, Isaach Kwaku Wadi, Executive Director of DaSDA Africa, explained that the initiative is funded by ADD International through the Disability Justice Fund for Women (DJFW).
He said the project seeks to empower individuals with disabilities through advocacy, inclusion, and social development, aiming to build a more accessible and equitable Africa for all.
“We are advocating for the African disability protocol to be ratified, because the Disability Act 715 does not incorporate or cover all aspects of disability-related issues. The African disability protocol rather provides a wider framework that includes a lot of disability issues, “he said.
Also addressing the gathering, Inspector Eunice Amuzu from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) highlighted the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of persons with disabilities.
She said the launch of the advocacy project reaffirms the Service’s dedication to protecting all citizens, including persons living with disabilities (PWDs).
In line with the National Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), and Ghana’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), the Police Service is working to ensure that persons with disabilities receive equitable treatment, legal protection, and access to justice.
This includes integrating disability studies into law enforcement training curricula, promoting dignified treatment of persons with disabilities, and ensuring police services are accessible to all.
In a related development, DaSDA Africa also unveiled an official theme song for the project, titled “We Rise.” The song calls on all stakeholders to support the cause of disability advocacy and stand in solidarity with persons with disabilities.
The launch event drew participation from key stakeholders, including departmental heads of the Atiwa East District Assembly, religious and traditional leaders, and members of the Ghana Society of Physically Disabled (GSPD) within the district.