By Stanley Senya
Accra, April 28, GNA – Sightsavers Ghana, in partnership with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), has held a training workshop for persons with disabilities aimed at enhancing disability inclusion within environmental organisations.
The training, held in Accra, forms part of a two-year European Union-funded project titled “Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women with Disabilities in Ghana.”
Its goal was to build the capacity of grassroots organisations championing disability rights, especially those focused on supporting women with disabilities.
A key objective of the initiative is to foster collaboration between disability-focused organisations and other sectors, particularly environmental organisations, to promote disability-inclusive practices and policies.
The training brought together 45 participants representing a wide array of stakeholders, including civil society groups focused on environment and climate change, women’s rights organisations, youth groups involved in environmental advocacy, and government agencies such as NADMO, the Forestry Commission, the Environmental Protection Agency, and the Ghana Meteorological Agency.
Participants were taken through key thematic areas including disability programming, effective engagement with persons with disabilities, legal frameworks on disability rights, understanding physical and attitudinal barriers, proper use of disability-related terminologies, and the concepts of inclusion, segregation, and integration.
Feedback from the event indicated that attendees gained a stronger understanding of how to mainstream disability inclusion in their work, and how to ensure the active participation of persons with disabilities in programmes and policy development.
Mr. Samson Addo, Programme Manager for Sightsavers International Ghana, called for collective responsibility in ensuring inclusive environments across all sectors.
“All institutions need to take disability inclusion seriously to create a welcoming environment for all, stressing the importance of collaboration among civil society organisations, youth-led groups, and state institutions in addressing the unique challenges faced by persons with disabilities,” he said.
Facilitators from the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Becky Nunoo, Bismark Amo, and Dorcas Mensah, echoed the need for intentional action.
They urged participants to implement inclusive strategies in their operations and ensure that the voices of persons with disabilities were consistently represented in environmental and climate action efforts.
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