NCPD HOLDS 2ND DISABILITY INCLUSION SUMMIT

The National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) under the auspices of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has held the 2nd Disability Inclusion Summit for some selected participants drawn from MDA’s, MMDA’s and other relevant Organisations on Tuesday 22nd February, 2023 in Accra.

The summit was organized under the theme, ” Achieving Sustainable Dignified Life for Persons with Disabilities: The Role and Contribution of Stakeholders”.

The summit was aimed at giving policy implementers the platform to share progresses being made towards the achievements of Ghana’s commitments towards the general well-being of Persons With Disabilities (PWDs).

It was also to inform and update persons with disabilities and stakeholders on contributions made and being made towards the sustainable dignified lives for persons with disabilities.

The summit also informed a Disability Inclusive Directory mapping policy implementers and thematic areas, development partners, organisations of and for persons with disabilities to respective operational objectives guided by the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2022-2025).

The Deputy Minister for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection who doubles as the Chairperson for the Summit, Hon. Francisca Oteng Mensah, expressed her gratitude to join hands with the disability fraternity and work for the wellbeing and interest of persons with disabilities.

According to her, Government is committed in ensuring the dignity of persons with disabilities in Ghana.

“These commitments are translated into the Medium-Term National Development Policy Framework (2022-2025) which obliges every MDA’s to take specific activities that ensures their mandates and services targets PWDs”, she noted.

Hon. Francisca Mensah disclosed that the Guidelines for the Management and Disbursement of District Assembly Common Fund for Persons with Disabilities to tighten the loose ends for effective, efficient and economic use of the fund is being reviewed.

She assured that the Government is committed to implementing the policies to ensure persons with disabilities live more good lives.

For his part, the Minister for Transport, Hon. Kwaku Ofori Asiamah emphasized that the Government through the Gender Ministry and the NCPD has embarked on various sustainable programmes to improve on the wellbeing of Persons with disability in the country.

“The passage of Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) Policy is to ensure that Persons with Disability are not discriminated against when it comes to driving, and would be allowed to take part in road traffic,” he added.

The Director of Human Resource Management Directorate of the MoGCSP, Mr. Ebenezer Charway on behalf of the Chief Director, Dr. Afisah Zakariah, implored all to work hard to combat all forms of barriers, promote equal access to social services and ensure meaningful engagement with PWDs in the country.

The Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disability, Madam Esther Akua Gyamfi, indicated that this year’s summit was about working together, sharing ideas and good practices to ensure that no one is left behind.

She called on all to take bold steps and bring all relevant stakeholders together in overcoming the challenges of the PWDs. Thus this ‘will change the narrative’, she stated.

Three key documents were launched as part of the summit:

• DVLA Policy for Testing and Training Drivers with Disabilities
• The National Inclusion Disaster Risk Management Guidelines
• Inclusive Education Directory.

Source: MoGCSP