By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Dec. 21, GNA – The Association of Parents and Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities, has held a sensitisation workshop with a call on government to assist the association to provide professional training to caregivers.
Mrs Hannah Awadzi, the President of the Association and the Executive Director of the Inclusive Family Alliance, a non-governmental organisation, said the workshop was to help put value on care work and contribute to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
It would also give dignity to care work and keep caregivers in employment and ensure that they get paid.
The workshop held in Accra, was on the theme: “Strengthening Caregiver Voices for Inclusive Policies and Support Systems.”
It aimed at mobilising members of parent-led and caregivers-led organisations across communities to build their capacity to ensure their voices are heard, respected, and reflected in policies to shape the lives of persons with disabilities.
Mrs Awadzi in an interview with the Ghana News Agency said the Labour Law and the educational policies needed to be looked at to make provisions for parents who had children with brain-related disabilities while providing space for the children to enrol in schools.
The concerns of parents of children with disabilities, she said were not part of the labour law, adding: “For instance, a mother who gives birth and working with government gets three-or four-months maternity leave but a mother with a disability child has no law covering her.
“If a mother is working with government and has a disability child at home, she either has to lock the child inside the house and go to work or stop working. Which means you are going to be a beggar.”
She proposed allowances to support parents and caregivers in the public sector to service the disabilities of their children, saying, “The disability law for instance gives persons who are disabled extra allowances to service their disabilities.
Mrs Awadzi noted: “A lot of us are stressed; we go through a lot of psychological problems. So, these are some of our needs. We want the policies to see us exist. A lot of us are dying prematurely because of stress and all those things that come with taking care of a child with disability.”
She called on parents and caregivers with children with disabilities to come together to push for inclusion in the formulation of policies.
She told the participants: “Our gathering here was not merely the beginning of an organisation but to mark the birth of a movement rooted in love, resilience, and unwavering commitment of families who refused to be left behind.
“We know all too well the challenges we face – limited resources, social stigma, and policies that often overlook our lived realities, but we also understand the strength that comes from unity.
“When we join hands, we amplify our voices, share our burdens, and transform our struggles into collective action.
“As we embark on this journey together, let us carry with us the spirit of unity, the courage to demand change, and the compassion to support one another,” she advised.
“Together we will build a future where every parent and caregiver is empowered, and every person with disability is valued, included, and celebrated,” she added.
Mr Evans Oheneba-Mensah, the Programme Officer of Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) in a solidarity message, commended the Association for its vision, commitment, and collective resolve to strengthen caregiver voices as a critical pillar for advancing inclusive policies and sustainable support systems for persons with disabilities and their families.
“Too often, caregiver perspectives are underrepresented in policy dialogues, service design, and resource allocation.
“This workshop is therefore timely and strategic, as it seeks to mobilise membership, build collective strength, and position caregivers as influential stakeholders in national and local decision-making processes,” he stated.
Mr Oheneba-Mensah said the chosen theme resonated strongly with GFD’s mission to promote the rights, dignity, and full participation of persons with disabilities in Ghanaian society.
He reaffirmed the readiness of the GFD to work with the Association through capacity building, policy engagement, knowledge sharing, and joint advocacy to advance their common goals.
“Be assured of our solidarity, partnership, and continued support,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Lydia Kukua Asamoah
