By Eunice Hilda A. Mensah
Accra, Dec. 23, GNA – The Association of Parents and Caregivers of Persons with Disabilities has appealed to government to support professional training for caregivers to improve skills and quality of care.
The Association also called for a value‑driven national policy on care work, emphasising the contribution of caregivers to Ghana’s economic well‑being and social development.
It said such a policy would recognise care work as a critical sector, ensure adequate support for caregivers, and integrate their role into the national development agenda.
Mrs Hannah Awadzi, President of the Association and Executive Director of the Inclusive Family Alliance, made the appeal at a sensitisation workshop in Accra over the weekend.
She explained that professional training would give dignity to care work, keep caregivers in employment, guarantee fair remuneration, and strengthen support systems for families of persons with disabilities.
Mrs Awadzi stressed that recognising and investing in caregivers was essential to building inclusive communities, noting that their work directly impacted the health, education and productivity of families and, by extension, the nation.
The workshop was held on the theme “Strengthening Caregiver Voices for Inclusive Policies and Support Systems.”
It aimed at mobilising parent‑led and caregiver‑led organisations to build capacity and ensure their voices were reflected in policies affecting persons with disabilities.
Mrs Awadzi said the Labour Law and educational policies needed review to make provisions for parents of children with brain‑related disabilities and to create space for such children to enrol in schools.
“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 noted:
Mrs Awadzi proposed allowances to support parents and caregivers in the public sector, saying: “The disability law for instance gives persons who are disabled extra allowances to service their disabilities.”
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 said.
Mrs Awadzi urged parents and caregivers to unite and push for inclusion in policy formulation.
“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,” she told participants.
Mrs Awadzi said that by uniting, caregivers could strengthen their voices, share responsibilities, and turn challenges into collective action.
She urged participants to embrace unity, show courage in seeking change, and demonstrate compassion in supporting each other.
“Together we will build a future where every parent and caregiver is empowered, and every person with disability is valued, included, and celebrated,” she stressed.
Mr Evans Oheneba‑Mensah, Programme Officer of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), in a solidarity message, commended the Association for its vision and commitment.
“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 said.
Mr. Oheneba‑Mensah noted that the theme of the workshop resonated with GFD’s mission to promote the rights, dignity and full participation of persons with disabilities, reaffirming the Federation’s readiness to collaborate through capacity building, policy engagement, knowledge sharing and joint advocacy.
“Be assured of our solidarity, partnership, and continued support,” he stated.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Sackey