A two-year European Union-funded project has ended in Ho with a call on stakeholders to strengthen inclusive governance, deepen collaboration, and sustain efforts aimed at advancing the rights and participation of women with disabilities in Ghana.
Stakeholders made the call at a Learn and Share Festival held at the GNAT Conference Hall in Ho on March 31, 2026, where government officials, civil society organizations, development partners, organizations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), and community leaders gathered to reflect on the outcomes of the initiative.
The project, titled “Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana,” was funded by the European Union and implemented by the Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organization (WODAO) in partnership with Sightsavers and the ABAK Foundation.
It ran from May 2024 to May 2026 as part of efforts to enhance disability inclusion and strengthen the capacity of civil society actors to support women with disabilities in governance and decision-making.
Speaking at the event, WODAO Executive Director Veronica Denyo Kofiedu described the gathering as both a culmination of progress and an opportunity to reflect on lessons learned and future commitments.
She noted that the project strengthened two co-applicant organizations and 23 downstream groups across the Volta and Oti regions, while mentoring 45 women with disabilities to actively participate in advocacy and decision-making processes. According to her, the initiative also contributed to promoting gender equality, disability inclusion, climate-responsive advocacy, and stronger grassroots engagement.
“We have contributed to ensuring that women and girls with disabilities are not only seen and heard, but actively engaged in shaping decisions that affect their lives,” she said.
Representing technical partner Sightsavers, Programme Manager Mohammed Abdul-Razak emphasized the need to prioritize ability over disability, urging stakeholders to expand opportunities and platforms for persons with disabilities.
He noted that the project reached over 2,000 individuals and maintained strong implementation performance throughout its lifecycle, while calling on government to accelerate the passage of the Persons with Disabilities Bill and address employment challenges facing graduates with disabilities.
Volta Regional Minister James Gunu, who delivered the keynote address, commended WODAO and its partners for their collaborative efforts, describing the project as a model of inclusive development.
“Inclusive development is not optional—it is essential. No society can truly progress if sections of its population are left behind,” he stated.
He highlighted ongoing government interventions, including free university education for persons with disabilities and measures aimed at improving equitable distribution of the District Assemblies Common Fund.
Adding his voice, Volta Regional Coordinating Director, Alhaji Mohammed Avona Akape, underscored the importance of partnership and collective effort in achieving meaningful results.
“Today we celebrate the progress we have made together. This project has shown us that when we work together, we can achieve great things,” he said.
He further stressed the need to sustain the gains made under the project beyond its lifecycle.
“As we close this chapter, we are committed to ensuring sustainability and continued impact. Let us keep pushing for a society where everyone is heard and valued,” he added.
A presentation by WODAO Project Officer George Kofiedu revealed that the project exceeded several of its targets, including training 122 civil society staff against a target of 75, reaching 586 downstream participants, and implementing 36 advocacy actions—surpassing the initial target of 20.
He, however, noted challenges such as limited awareness of disability inclusion, resource constraints, coordination gaps, and inadequate accessible infrastructure, stressing that accessibility remains a key area requiring urgent attention.
Delivering a solidarity message, Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana, highlighted the importance of inclusive storytelling and stronger representation of persons with disabilities in media and public discourse.
“Storytelling is power. Visibility is power. Voice is power,” he said, noting that persons with disabilities continue to face exclusion across both governance and media spaces.
Dr. Wemakor called for sustained and effective collaboration among government institutions, civil society organizations, the media, development partners, and disability rights actors to ensure that advocacy efforts translate into measurable outcomes.
He emphasized that coordinated and long-term partnerships are essential to dismantle systemic barriers, improve representation, and ensure effective implementation of disability-inclusive policies.
He also announced that Human Rights Reporters Ghana will convene a high-level dialogue at RightsCon 2026, scheduled for May 6, 2026, at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka, Zambia.
The dialogue, themed “Silenced Twice: Press Freedom and Disability Voices Under Threat in Africa,” is expected to bring together journalists, disability rights advocates, policymakers, and digital rights actors to engage on strategies for advancing inclusion.
According to him, the Lusaka dialogue will serve as a strategic platform to consolidate global and regional voices, examine persistent barriers, and develop practical, action-oriented recommendations to improve media inclusion, policy response, and digital accessibility for persons with disabilities.
He noted that discussions will focus on making media systems more inclusive, promoting ethical and dignity-centered reporting, strengthening the capacity of persons with disabilities to tell their own stories, and addressing the risks of digital exclusion as technology continues to shape civic participation across Africa.
“This is not just a media issue—it is a human rights issue. When voices are excluded, democracy itself is weakened,” he stated.
The event concluded with stakeholders reaffirming their commitment to sustain the gains achieved under the project, strengthen collaboration, and advance inclusive policies that promote dignity, equality, and full participation for persons with disabilities.
Participants acknowledged that while progress has been made, continued efforts are required to dismantle structural barriers and ensure that no one is left behind.
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