By Priscilla Oye Ofori
Accra, Oct. 14, GNA – Mr Auberon Jeleel Odoom, the Executive Director of Inclusion Ghana, dedicated to the inclusion of Persons with Disability (PWDs) in development programmes, says the Social Protection Act is an opportunity for PWDs to negotiate better inclusitivity in social protection interventions.
He said the new law provided a framework for ensuring the right of PWDs were upheld as enshrined in Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of PWDs guaranteeing their right to social protection.
The Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), provides a legal framework for coordinated social protection delivery, the establishment of a Social Protection Fund, and the provision of sustainable support to the poor and vulnerable.
The Social Protection interventions include the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and other pro-poor interventions.
Mr Odoom said the law required an inclusive approach to social protection interventions, ensuring PWDs benefitted from the process.
“We have several social protection programmes in Ghana, and if you look at how it started, you know, the consideration of PWDs was not part of it. PWDs turns out to be always an afterthought,” he stated.
Mr Odoom said the passage of the law was a significant step towards promoting the rights and well-being of PWDs in the country.
It provided a basis for contesting in court if access to social protection was denied.
“We are looking forward to discussing this even much more with government, and even much better, if the amended version of Persons with Disability Bill gets passed into law, then there will be a great opportunity for PWDS,” the Director added.
He revealed that in the PWDs Bill, there was strong advocacy around social protection that would enable them to access opportunities and funds from other bills.
Mr Odoom called on the government to ratify the Protocol to African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of PWDs in Africa, to show its leadership in the protection of their dignity and rights.
He noted that the bill must be amended to enhance opportunities for PWDs. GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe