Meeting SGDs...Ghana factors persons with disability in national programmes

Ghana government has factored the needs and concerns of Persons with Disability in all national programmes in order to give meaning to the implementation of Agenda 2030 of the Sustainable Development goals.

Consequently, Persons with Disability have been mainstreamed in Ghana's National Social Protection strategy and poverty reduction interventions.

Mr. Kwesi Armo-Himbson, Chief Director of the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection stated this today (June 15, 2016) when he presented Ghana's position at the on-going ninth session of the conference of States Parties to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (CPRD) at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

Under the theme "Implementing the 2030 development agenda for all persons with disabilities: Leaving no one behind", the three-day programme is discussing the implementation of the Convention, apart from an interactive dialogue on implementation of the Convention between States parties and the United Nations system: celebrating the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. .

The Chief Director, who is leading Ghana's 8-member delegation announced that under the Government of Ghana Livelihood Empowerment Against poverty (LEAP), cash transfer programme more than 52,082 Persons with Disability are benefiting from 20,932,788 Ghana cedis transfers to meet their basic needs.

To enhance access to economic and livelihood creation opportunities in the districts, he stated that government has increased the allocation of the total national revenue to the disabled from two to three per cent.

Mr. Kwesi Armo-Himbson mentioned that the Ministry of Education has launched a policy and guidelines on Inclusive Education (IE), which is being implemented in 20 districts in the country with support from UNICEF. Aside that, all children in public basic schools including those with disabilities enjoy free education.

Despite efforts made, he mentioned that the negative perception that disability is a curse and non-productive still persisted in some communities, but said education has been intensified to correct it.

Ghana, the Chief Director said wanted the state parties to ensure that women are adequately represented on the committee in the coming years in order to give true meaning to affirmative action, which is one of the cardinal principles of the United Nations and the Convention.

Ghana's candidate to the nine-member committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Mrs. Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, a member of the National Council for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD) lost her bid, in a keenly contested election, when she bagged 54 of the expected 81 votes. The only two other women among the 17 contestants also failed to secure the necessary votes for the 9-member committee.

Ghana's delegation include Mr. Kwamena Dadzie-Dennis, Executive Secretary, NCPD, Mr. Benjamin A. Otoo, National Director, Department of Social Development, Mr. Alex Tetteh, Executive President, Centre of Employment for Persons with Disability.

Picture by R.Harry Reynolds shows Mr.Armo-Himbson delivering his address at the conference. behind him are Mr. Dadzie-Dennis and Mr. Benjamin A. Otoo