Amputees demand dignity, inclusion
“Amputees in Ghana are not asking for charity; they are asking for opportunities and dignity.”
This was the central message from the Founder and Director of Smiles of Hope, Valeria Adzatia, when her organisation presented a formal petition to the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection at the forecourt of the ministry in Accra last Tuesday.
The petition was delivered as part of activities marking Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, highlighting the pressing challenges facing amputees and called for urgent government intervention.
Challenges
Ms Adzatia said since its inception, Smiles of Hope had worked with over 2,000 amputees through counselling, rehabilitation support and skills training.
She said while many had shown resilience, a significant number struggled to afford prosthetic limbs, leaving them immobile and dependent on others.
She explained that gaps in healthcare systems meant some patients underwent amputation without adequate cancer care and post-treatment support.
Economic hardship, she added, remained widespread among amputees due to limited job opportunities, while public spaces and transport systems continued to be largely inaccessible.
She further indicated that the absence of comprehensive national data on amputees hindered effective policy planning and intervention.
Demands
Ms Adzatia called on the government to establish a national prosthetic support scheme to make artificial limbs affordable and accessible.
She also advocated the integration of mental health and cancer care into healthcare services for amputees, as well as the introduction of mandatory free amputation care protocols.
She urged the creation of targeted economic empowerment programmes and the enforcement of disability-friendly infrastructure nationwide.
In addition, she appealed for the development of a national amputee registry and policy framework to guide care and support systems.
“We are asking for inclusion.
There is life after amputation, but this life must be supported by systems that work,” she said.
Assurance
The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, who received the petition on behalf of the President, gave the assurance that the concerns would be addressed.
She explained that April was globally observed as Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, a period dedicated to celebrating the resilience of amputees and advocating improved access to care.
She said although many amputations were preventable, stigma and systemic barriers continued to affect amputees in Ghana.
Despite these challenges, she said, amputees continued to demonstrate remarkable strength and resilience in their daily lives.
Reforms
Dr Lartey highlighted ongoing government efforts to improve the welfare of persons with disabilities, including plans to expand access to education, rehabilitation services and employment opportunities.
She said proposed measures such as employment quotas and increased funding allocations would help empower amputees to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She added that the achievements of groups such as the national amputee football team and advocates such as Ms Adzatia showed that limb loss did not limit potential.
“This is a call to action to challenge stigma, promote inclusion and build a society where every individual can live a dignified and empowered life,” she said.
