Report on discrimination against disabilities launched in Accra

A 36-page report on discrimination against women and girls with disabilities was launched on Friday in Accra.

The report seeks to target their needs and integrate disability into all its programmes as well as quantifying levels of violence and discrimination among people with disabilities.

It analysed data on self-reported discrimination across Ghana of whom individuals with disabilities reported higher levels of violence than those without.

Launching the report, Madam Kyerewa Asamoah Sekpey, Coordinator for Leave No One Behind, a nongovernmental organisation, said the report in collaboration with Voice Netherlands and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations was designed to give opportunity to Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) to contribute meaningfully to society.

She described the study as another demonstration of the organisation’s deep commitment to working as partners in supporting the most vulnerable in society and in fostering the sustainable development goal.

Speaking on the theme, “Think equal, build smart, and innovate for change” Madam Asamoah said the subject was in line with the global theme, “Balance for better” for this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration.

She said despite effort being made, PWDs still face challenges, which hinder their inclusion in the national development process, due to implementation challenges.

She called on the state to continue to collaborate with the PWDs and other stakeholders to strengthen the existing structures and develop new ones that would ensure the effective implementation of the convention.

A representative from GFD, Madam Alice Appiah, called on the government to stop paying lip-serve to their plight and take pragmatic steps to ensure that their rights were not trampled upon.

She called on philanthropists to complement the government’s efforts at alleviating the plight of PWDs as the government could not do it all alone.

By Benedicta Gyimaah Folley