Disability Fund for GFD

The Ghana Federation of the Disability Organisations (GFD) is poised to launch the Disability Endowment Fund, come 5^th December 2017, at the Alisa Hotel in Accra, to sustain its numerous projects and programmes.

The Fund would support GFD in its advocacy work for the rights of Persons with Disability (PWD), and build the capacity and strengthen the organisations of Persons with Disabilities in all 200 districts across the country.

According to Mrs. Beatrice Akua Mahmood, Project Coordinator of GFD, the Endowment Fund will support persons with disabilities discover their potentials and live their dreams, as well as help them contribute to national development.

Stating that “Disability is not inability”, She appealed to well-meaning Ghanaians, Cooperate Ghana, philanthropists, and well-wishers to support the fund either in kind or cash, to enable the Federation reach out to more persons with disabilities in the country.

She noted that contribution to the fund, among other areas, will help promote access to inclusive education, by identifying those with special needs, enrolling and maintaining children with disabilities in school.

In addition, part of the fund would support the Federation’s advocacy for inclusive education and healthcare delivery systems so that PWD’s could access education and healthcare services without challenges.

Why the Fund?

The Project Coordinator explained that the Fund is being introduced at a time donor support was dwindling, and the increasing need to sustain the implementation of GFD programmes and projects as well as replicate them across the 200 Districts in the country.

She also observed that the Fund would assist all eight (8) member organisations of the GFD in their programmes, support, train and equip PWDs with employable skills as well as facilitate their employment into the public and private sectors through advocacy.   

Target Groups

The beneficiaries of the Fund include all Persons with Disabilities in Ghana, and those drawn from the eight member organisations of GFD, comprising the Ghana Blind Union, Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, and the Mental Health Society of Ghana,

Others are Inclusion Ghana – a group of people with intellectual disability, Share Care Ghana – a group of people with auto-immune and neurological disorders, and Burns Survivors Association.

The Federation also works with persons with deaf-blindness and leprosy, and handles general disability issues whilst its member organisations focus on their specific disability needs.

Mission
With a vision of ensuring an inclusive society for all persons with disabilities in Ghana”, GFD declares it commitment to advocate the rights of Persons with Disability by influencing policies, programmes and activities at the national and local levels and to strengthen the organisations of Persons with Disabilities.

Achievements
The Federation which marks its 30^th Anniversary in this year, has succeeded in influencing the inclusion and participation of persons with disabilities in Ghana’s Elections, through the introduction of tactile ballot system by Electoral Commission of Ghana. This has enhanced blind persons to cast their vote independently in the 2004, 2008, 2012 and 2016 national elections.

Again the registration and voting of persons with psychosocial disabilities in psychiatric hospitals the 2012 and 2016 general elections, was made possible through GFD’s efforts.

Similarly, through its advocacy GFD has led to the enactment of the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) and Mental Health Act, Act 846, 2012 as well as Ghana’s ratification of the UN convention on the rights of Persons with Disability. 

The allocation of 3% of the District Assembly Common Fund to PWD’s, with guidelines for the management, disbursement, utilization, and accountability for the fund was the result of GFD’s effort.

To support the Fund, please call: 0302240530 and 0240867200

Promote Ecumenism in West Africa-Priests charged

The dignitaries with delegates

Most Rev. Charles Palmer-Buckle, Metropolitan Archbishop of Accra has challenged Catholic Priests in the West African Sub-Region to commit to efforts to promote Ecumenism that would foster growth of development in member countries.

Calling Priests to be missionaries to Africa, he urged them to lead efforts in interreligious affairs, as well as be at the forefront in building effective relations with civil authorities in the sub-region to engender peace and help address the challenges confronting many countries of West Africa and Africa at large.

The Archbishop, made the observation at the opening of the 5^th Congress of Regional Union of Priests of West Africa at Koforidua, and entreated Priests to collaborate more with their Bishops to ensure the attainment of growth and development.

He re-echoed the call of Pope Paul VI to African Priests at Kamapala in 1969 at the formation of SECAM, for Priests to be missionaries to Africans and to reach to the world.

 “Start looking at yourselves as missionaries to yourselves” the Archbishop said, urging Priests to be concerned with the happening in the universal Church.

The Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana, Most Rev. Jean Marie Spiech in address urged Priests to look at Mary as their mother in discharge of their roles, entreating them to heed the invitation of the Church to love and venerate Mary by imitating her virtues.

He said SINCE the Blessed Virgin Mary was a perfect mother for Priests, they should reflect on her tender care in the pilgrimage of our faith.

The delegates

In an address, Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Martin Onukwuba, President of RUPWA, recounted that the birth of the association dates to November 2012, with a directives of Bishops of the joint Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa (RECOWA) to Priest from 11 countries within the sub region to hold a Constitutive Assembly of the Association.

He commended the Government and people of Ghana for the warm reception accorded the delegates, and commended the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) for the preaching peace and their support of development of the country.

“For us to gather and operate on this level suggest that we want to contribute our quota to the development of our region” he said.

Most Rev. Michael Ekwoy Apochi, Bishop of Otupo and Episcopal Chairman of the RUPWA, assured the Priests of the support of the Regional Episcopal Conferences of West Africa in their celebration at the Congress. 

He thanked the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, the Archdiocese of Accra and the Diocese of Koforidua for their efforts in hosting the Congress. 

Opening the Congress, Very Rev. Prof. Francis Appiah-Kubi, President of National Union of Ghana Priest Associations (NUGPA), said even though they are religious and Priests, they were concerned about the regional integration of West African Countries.

He touched on the theme for the conference, “Behold Your Mother: Mary in the Heart of Priestly Ministry”, explained that as Children of Mary, through whom the Church 

The Congress attracted over 50 delegates from 12 member countries of the West African Region.  They include delegates from Benin, Burkina Faso, Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone, Guinea Bissau, Guinea, The Gambia, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, Togo and Ghana.

  

LET'S TALK ABOUT PUBLIC ANGER

This guy was beaten mercilessly at the Kaneshie Market for STEALING GH¢1.50p the other day, perhaps he was not smart enough.
But you're there enjoying your post and superintending over malfeasance and you think the public will spare you when they get you.
I won't tell you how to govern or conduct your affairs, because you know too well the rules of the game and how to explain or justify your actions. However, I don't know how much you value integrity, reputation, respect and the  goodwill of the your people. I don't know whether you know or you care to know about the fact that public trust in your office is at its lowest?
If I were you, I would do my best and avoid repeating the mistakes of my predecessor, because the danger you face now is managing an eminent PUBLIC ANGER waiting to explode.
Maybe we are taking ourselves for granted and not listening to the silent whispers of the marginalised people.
Maybe we think of our people as second grade human beings and don't care much about their welfare. In singing  the patriotic ideals in our ethos, please be reminded that the people are watching.
Our society certainly needs a system re-engineering that will satisfactorily address our NEEDS.  Thanks for reading.
My names are Kwesi Yirenkyi Boateng.
I have spoken.

Advocate for inclusive Development

Bishop Baawobr with the participants

Most Rev. Richard Kuuia Baawobr, M.Afr., Catholic Bishop of Wa, has called on Ghanaians especially Christians to reflect on the plight of the socially excluded including the poor, and think of ways to reach out to them.

The Bishop urged Parishes throughout the country, particularly those in the Wa Diocese to use the World Day of the Poor (Sunday November 19) to rethink inclusive development to address the plight of the poor in the country.

He made these observation during the opening of a National Seminar on ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ in Ghana’s Implementation of the SDGs, organised by Caritas Ghana with support from Sightsavers, Caritas Africa, MAREDES and the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference, at the Catholic Guest House,Tiegber in Wa on Thursday.

Bishop Baawobr speaking at the Seminar

The Bishop who expressed worry at the deplorable conditions of the poor, marginalised, and mentally challenged, entreated stakeholders to make effective and inclusive planning to ensure that no one was left behind in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“The SDGs can bring real change provided all the stakeholders work at ensuring that every individual achieves the full package of rights and opportunities the SDGs express” he said.

Describing the Seminar as a heart-warming one, Bishop Baawobr, expressed optimism that “stakeholders in the implementation of the SDGs will find and agree on what to do to so that no region or people or category of people is left behind or worst still is exploited in the process”.

Pope Francis recently named the thirty-third Sunday in Ordinary time (November 19) the World Day of the Poor to help the Catholics and people reflect on plight of the poor in our society.

In his exhortation to mark the celebration of the Day, the Pope said: ‘If we want to help change history and promote real development, we need to hear the cry of the poor and commit ourselves to ending their marginalization’.

To this end, Very Rev. Fr. Daniel F. Saaka, Vice Rector at the St. Victor’s Seminary, Tamale, urged Parishes to give prominence to the World Day of the Poor and use the occasion to champion the course of the poor and vulnerable, whilst impacting on their lives in the communities.

He challenged Catholic Charities to continue making preferential options for the poor, and support the vulnerable, especially those, whose lives and property are under threat.

“The call for solidarity with the poor, is very significant” he stressed, entreating the Church to pay more attention to issues of child labour or trafficking, waste management, care for the environment and check the culture of waste.

In a statement, Mr. Samuel Zan Akologo, Executive Secretary of Caritas Ghana, observed that incidences in our country of defilement of minors and disruptions to the school feeding programme in some very poor communities that left children without their daily ration of food were signs of a weakening system of protection for the vulnerable.

Decrying the elusive and scanty action given to social protection in the country, he called for a push for demonstrable commitment by public policy actors and architects of national development plans to ensure social protection issues were adequately catered for.

“It is no longer acceptable that the weak, poor, marginalised and vulnerable in society are an after-thought of planned policies and development programmes” he declared.

He explained that the principle to ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ meant a conscious policy and programming direction that aims to reach first those furthest behind or at the periphery of society.

Mr. Akologo noted that the seminar, a continuity of Caritas Ghana work last year, to assess the status of Ghana’s implementation of the SDGs and dialogue to ensure that everyone, and especially the poor themselves, understand how they will be accounted for when measuring progress with the SDGs.

Madam Grace Antwi-Atsu, Global Advocacy Advisor at Sightsavers, noted that her organisation was working together with partners, including Caritas Ghana to ensure that no one was left behind in the implementation of the SDGs.

This was after the realisation that most Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), who make up 15 % of the world population, were not systematically included in the progress made against Millennium Development Goals.

To make the biggest impact by 2030, Madam Antwi-Atsu said Sightsavers seeks new alliances and partnerships, as well as use advocacy to ensure no one was left behind.

She called for evidence based advocacy, and entreated funders, non-profits, and other civil society groups to maintain pressure on governments to include PWDs and all marginalised in their development plans.

Notwithstanding the considerable economic growth and reduction of poverty over the years, Madam Otiko Afisa Djaba, Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, in a speech read for her stated that persistent economic and social inequalities calls for the intensification, harmonisation and sustenance of interventions to deal with the problems.

She said poverty which has been halfed from 56.5% to 24.2% nationally from 1992 to 2013, was still rife in the three Northern Regions, with Upper West recording 70%.

She noted that though efforts were being made to increase women participation in the political front, increase women access to MASLOC to improve their women financial status, among others, Government would collaborate with Caritas Ghana and other development partners to provide more interventions to bridge the poverty gap.

Over 45 participants drawn from MAREDES, Ghana Federation of Disable, Diocesan Development Officers, as well as Civil Society groups attended the two-day Seminar.

‘Make Mental Health your business’

Ghanaians have been entreated to examine their attitude to persons with disability in the country, particularly persons with mental disability, and rethink how they relate with them.

Mr. Yaro

Participants at the just ended National Seminar on ‘Ensure No One is Left Behind’ in Ghana’s Implementation of the SDGs in the Upper West Regional Capital, Wa, appealed to Ghanaians to seek ways to support Persons with Mental Disability, and reduce the stigma against them.

They underscored the need for every Ghanaian to take mental health issues seriously and work to support persons exhibiting symptoms of mental illness.

Various participants have pledged their commitment to support sensitise the public on mental illness, extend support to the mentality challenged

The Marshallan Relief and Development Services (MAREDES) in a presentation on ‘Leave No One Behind’ Ensuring People with Mental Illness are catered for in Development Processes, called for concrete steps to take care for the persons suffering from Mental Illness.

Commenting on Mental Health Situation in Ghana, Mr. Peter Yaro, MAREDES, estimates that 10.1% of Ghanaians have mild to moderate mental disorders, adding that a further 650,000 are suffering from severe mental illnesses.

He expressed worry about the fact that Mental health care in Ghana is overly medicalised, specialised and centralised, and called for the integration of mental care, increase in non-drug therapeutic services as well as self-care and community mental health at Public Health Care level in Hospitals.

Section of the Participants

Mr. Yaro bemoaned the low budgetary portion to Mental Health in the National Health budget, stressing that “the less than 10% of health budget allocated to mental health, with the available allocation going to mainly the psychiatric hospitals and personal emoluments of the workers was woefully inadequate.

With increasing trend of mental illness among the Ghanaian population, Mr. Yaro expressed the need for the training of more expert in the mental health, adding that current 15 Psychiatrists and 12 Clinical Psychologists in the country were underserving the people.

Participants expressed worry at the 98% treatment gap for mental illness in the country and called for a collective and concerted efforts to address reduce the treatment gap and ensure their inclusion in development plans. 

They noted that stigma, negative perceptions, fear, helplessness, poor attitudes towards mental illness, as well as inadequate infrastructure and service policy was affecting the delivery of mental illness and epilepsy in the country.

Non-State Actors in Ghana working to address Mental Health in Ghana, include Basic Needs-Ghana, the Christian Health Association of Ghana (CHAG), the MAREDES, the Mental Health Society of Ghana (MEHSOG), and the Centre for People’s Empowerment and Rights Initiatives and others.

They are engaged in advocacy to address right to treatment, human rights highlighting non-discrimination, no stigma and no abuse, and adequate budgetary allocation for mental health, and policies and programmes inclusive of the needs and rights of persons with mental health and epilepsy care needs.

However, Mr. Alexander Bankole Williams of the Ghana Federation of Disability (GFD), noted that the discrimination against persons with disability in the country was more attitudinal, and called for change in our attitude in order to end the stigma to persons with mental illness, since they are also human beings.