Project to include PWDs in governance process underway
A disability rights and advocacy organisation based in Ho has brokered an agreement with 19 district assemblies in the Eastern and Northern regions for the participation of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the decision-making process of the assemblies.
Advertisement
In the agreement, platforms will be created for persons with disabilities in the respective districts to participate in local level development and decision-making processes with special inclusion in development plans of district assemblies.
Beneficiary assemblies
The two-year project is being sponsored by the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA) and will be implemented in the Kwahu Afram Plains South, Kwahu Afram Plains North, Asuogyaman, Yilo Krobo, Upper Manya, Lower Manya, Kwahu South, Fanteakwa, Akwapim South and Suhum municipal and district assemblies in the Eastern Region.
Those in the Northern Region are East Gonja, Nanumba North, Mion, Kpandai, Nanumba South, Tatale, Karaga, Gushegu, Saboba and Yendi municipal and district assemblies.
Voice Ghana
Speaking to the Daily Graphic on the project, the executive director of VOICE GHANA, Mr Francis Asong, explained that the project was aimed at helping beneficiary persons with disabilities to participate effectively in public hearing sessions and town hall meetings of their respective municipal and district assemblies in demanding benefits from provision of public goods and services.
For his part, the programmes manager of VOICE GHANA, Mr Charles Nyante, said the targeted district assemblies were enthused about the support that had been extended to them with respect to development issues from persons with disabilities into their respective development plans and hinted that the assemblies had assured them of the readiness to include issues in the 2018-2021 Medium-Term Development Plans and Budget.
He said the organisation was in the process of gathering inputs from community members for integration into Medium-Term Plan preparation and appreciated efforts at collating very important development issues from persons with disabilities to feed the plan.