ABAK Foundation and Sightsavers Ireland and with funding support from the European Union, has organised a stakeholders’ workshop to strengthen, enlighten, and equip women with disabilities to take charge of their lives and actively participate in decision-making processes.
The initiative, which falls under the project titled “Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women With Disabilities in Ghana,” seeks to build stronger partnerships between ABAK and broader advocacy movements across its operational areas.
Speaking at the workshop, the Chairperson of ABAK Foundation Ghana, Madam Abigail Manu, who is herself a woman with disability, underscored the urgent need to break down barriers of social stigma and discrimination that continue to limit the potential of women with disabilities.
“There is the need for all stakeholders to support the fight against social stigma and discrimination that prevents women with disabilities from living up to their fullest potential in their communities,” Madam Manu stressed.
She further highlighted the project’s core objectives, which include “increasing the visibility of disability-related issues in mainstream advocacy, enhancing advocacy for disability inclusion, and promoting disability-responsive climate change initiatives in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana.”
Adding her voice, the Project Officer of ABAK Foundation, Ms. Dorcas Dapaah, explained that the project was not only about knowledge transfer but also about amplifying the voices of women with disabilities.
“Aside from strengthening and enlightening them, we will amplify their voices, especially the women with disabilities, to be involved in decision-making in society,” she said.
Ms. Dapaah revealed that the initiative will not be limited to the current workshop but will be extended to benefit other regions. “ABAK Foundation, going forward, will also engage downstream organisations in Bono, Bono East, Ashanti and Greater Accra for them to also benefit from this project,” she disclosed.
According to her, a key part of the project is to ensure that women with disabilities gain access to policies and resources that promote their development. “After the workshop, we’ll build capacities of downstream groups to have the needed policies that will support them and strengthen their groups for wider advocacy actions,” she emphasised.
The workshop, therefore, represents a significant step in addressing the challenges faced by women with disabilities, ensuring their voices are not only heard but fully integrated into national development discourse.
By: Nana Yaw Owusu (0240782639).