1.0 Introduction/Background
The Foundation for Community Empowerment Programme (FOCEP) in partnership with Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (GSD) with funding from UK aid is implementing an intervention dubbed: Promoting Equal Rights and Opportunities for All in the Mamprungu Moaduri District of the North East Region of Ghana.
Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (Ghana Participation Programme) is a four-year disability programme in Ghana, with a specific focus on mental health. This programme is funded with UK aid from the UK government. The programme is run by an Options’ led consortium, which also consists of Basic Needs Ghana, Kings College London, Sightsavers International and Tropical Health, and focuses on four key areas: 1. Promoting stronger policies and systems that respect the rights of people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities 2. Scaling up high quality and accessible mental health services 3. Reducing stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities, including mental health disabilities 4. Generating evidence to inform policy and practice on the effectiveness of disability and mental health programmes and interventions.
2.0 Official Opening.
The workshop was officially opened by Adam Karim, Deputy District Coordinating Director, after an opening prayer said by Rev Elijah W. Gomnah. Mr. Adam on behalf of the District Assembly welcomed all participants to the occasion. He lauded FOCEP for the good works done so far. He added that persons with disabilities and Mental Health conditions required special attention and that this project was appropriate and timely. He pledged the Assembly’s full support for the project and entreated all participants to participate actively to come out with concrete steps to consciously support Persons with disabilities and persons with mental health conditions to promote inclusive development especially during this era of the Pandemic.
3.0 Project overview
Mr. Akanpisi Solomon, Executive Director of FOCEP took participants through the project intervention; scope, activities and time lines. He appealed to all the stakeholders to endeavor to promote the rights of PWD’s and PWMHD’s by ensuring that they are factored in all sectors during the medium-to long term development planning process in the district.
He reiterated that the project is one-year. The year-long project, spanning May 2021 to April 2022, dubbed: Promoting Disability Inclusive Development (PDID). In a PowerPoint presentation he outlined the details of the projects as follows:
3.1 Project timelines
| Commencement of project | 15th April, 2021 |
| End of project | 14th April, 2022 |
| 1st Quarter Period | 15th April 2020 to 14th July 2021 |
| 2nd Quarter Period | 15th July 2021 to 14th October 2021 |
| 3rd Quarter Period | 15th October 2021 to 14th January 2022 |
| 4th Quarter Period | 15th January 2022 to 14th April 2022 |
3.2 project outcomes and activities
| Outcome 1: Increased awareness and responsiveness of stakeholders (leaders of the various DPO’s /SHG’s, traditional council, local council of Churches, Heads of strategic decentralized departments such as Ghana Health Service, Social welfare/Com. Dev’t, CHRAJ, NCCE, YK Fm, Dept of Agriculture, Ghana Education Service) on disability issues to remove negative barriers
– 1.1.1 Organize training for religious and traditional leaders on disability and mental health rights/inclusion – 1.1.2 Organize project inception meeting with primary and secondary stakeholders. Primary [PWD’S, PMHD, caregivers] Secondary [heads of decentralized department, Religious and traditional leaders, leaders of community Based organisations [CBOs], Media, heads of NGOs – 1.1.3 Organize 52 community Radio programme to create awareness on disability and mental health rights for social inclusion – 1.1.4 Organize capacity development training for 50 executive members of SHG’s and DPO’s on inclusive education – 1.1.5 Organize community durbars for 10 communities on disability rights and mental health disability rights and inclusion to reduce discrimination and stigma Outcome 2: Enhanced knowledge of Decentralized Heads of departments on disability and mental health issues to influence inclusive planning – 2.2.1. Develop and produce 400 simplified copies of the Disability Act (Act 715) and Mental Health Act (Act 846) for members of the various DPO’s and SHG’s. – 2.2.2 Organize joint training sessions between 50 Executive members of SHGs and DPO’ and key Departmental heads on disability rights – 2.2.3 Organize mid-term and end of project debriefing of progress of activities – 2.2.4 Organize two follow up engagement meeting to ascertain the progress of the interface meetings between SHG’s/DPO’s and District Authorities. – 2.2.5 Organize interface meeting between executives of SHG’s/DPO’s and district heads of departments on guidelines on disability inclusive construction (physical accessibility). Outcome 3: Empowered PWD’s and PWMHD’s for rights engagement and fulfilment. – 3.1.1 Strengthening of existing 10 SHG’s for effective advocacy engagement with duty bearers – 3.1.2 Facilitate the establishment of 4 mental health SHG’s in Yezesi, Loagri, Djadema, Yikpapongo in 4 communities for PWMHD’s – 3.1.3 Organize monthly/quarterly review meetings with various SHG’s/DPO’s – 3.1.4 To facilitate training of 5 DPO’s and 5 SHG’s on key advocacy strategies and MDTP processes to enhance Rights Based Approach (RBA) to development. – 3.1.5 Training of staff/DPO’s /SHG’s leaders on safeguarding and other essential policies |
4.0 Attendance
In all, 50 Participants attended the workshop held on the 2nd July 2021 at the Mamprugu-Moaduri district Assembly conference hall.
| Male | Female | Total | |
| DPO executives | 13 | 5 | 18 |
| Self Help group executives | 6 | 0 | 6 |
| Traditional leaders | 7 | 8 | 15 |
| Religious leaders | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| Departmental heads | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| Total | 37 | 13 | 50 |
Solidarity messages from stakeholders
| Yag-dana making his submission |
Yag-dana Mumuni Wuni, Yagba chief on behalf of the traditional council, thanked FOCEP and GSD project interventions in their area. He described the project as a laudable intervention, which would ensure that persons with disabilities and persons with mental health conditions received the needed support from their families and community members. He pledged his support for the project and called on other traditional rulers to support it to succeed.
Kubori-dana Tampuri Salifu, Chief of Kubori, in support of his colleague, said, “We are ready to render our services to support whoever that is willing to help in transforming our human resources especially persons with disabilities and persons with mental health conditions in this community.”
Nuhu Ibrahim, Yagba Imam, also commended the project intervention and assured everyone that the Muslim community will support the project. He added that he will ensure all mosques are accessible to PWD’s and PWMHD’s.
Rev. Joseph Agana, on behalf of his colleague pastors pledged the unflinching support for the project. He said they will endeavour to use their forums to advocate for the rights of the persons with disabilities and persons with mental health conditions.
Using himself as example, he stressed that “disability is not inability”. He explained that, despite his disability he has established his own church and his ministry is doing well by the grace of God. He urged all not to hide their children with disabilities, but rather bring them out to increase their chances of getting the necessary support and assistance. He expressed his gratitude to the Hon DCE and the Assembly for their efforts to address the needs of the PWD’s and PWMHD’s in the district.
Mr. Baani Yussif, Special Education Coordinator, who spoke on behalf of the district Director of education hailed the project as good news for the district. He said, GES is making frantic efforts to ensure no child is left behind in terms of education. He however stated that the GES face a challenge with inclusive education in terms of infrastructure and manpower to accommodate and handle children with special needs.
He made a passionate appeal to the Executive Director of FOCEP to train their classroom teachers in inclusive education and diagnosis of early detection signs of disabilities in children. He emphasized that if the children are not properly handled at the early stage they will grow up to be more vulnerable for their families and the society at large.
The Executive Director, Mr. Akanpisi, thanked him for the submission and assured him that FOCEP has taken note of the concerns and will do what it can to support the district in that regard.
Official Launching
Hon. Abu Adam, the District Chief Executive (DCE), applauded FOCEP for the project intervention. He thanked the Executive Director and his team for choosing his district to benefit from the project intervention.
He stated that the Assembly has been supporting PWD’s and PWMHD’s over the past years to improve on their livelihood and living standards in their own way through the District Assembly Common Fund under the Disability Fund. He hinted that the Assembly alone can not meet the need of the PWD’s and PWMHD’s given the limited resources available to them. He is happy that FOCEP has come to support. He pledged the Assembly’s full support for the project and declared the project duly launched.
Closing Remarks
Mr Akanpisi Solomon, Executive Director of FOCEP, thanked participants for their active participation. He emphasized the need for all organizations and persons to consider persons with disabilities and persons with mental health conditions in their planning to ensure that no one is left behind in the development planning process.
Mr Akanpisi called on traditional, religious and opinion leaders to support PWD’s and PWMHD’s in their communities to enable them to reach their full potentials in life. He further called on the District Assembly to ensure that the PWD’s and PMHD’s access their share of the District Assembly Common Fund in good time to support their livelihoods. He concluded that inclusive development is a shared responsibility and that a concerted efforts is required to make it a reality. FOCEP believe that in partnership we can do more!
Compiled by:
Enoch Dokurugu
(Project Officer)