Vice President Professor Jane Naana Opoku-Agyemang has reaffirmed the government’s commitment to promoting the inclusion and welfare of persons with disabilities through improved access to education, employment opportunities, healthcare and social protection.
She said a society’s commitment to inclusion must be demonstrated through practical opportunities that enable persons with disabilities to participate fully in national development.
In a message marking this year’s Day of Help celebration in Koforidua, the Vice President said the initiative had, for more than a decade, provided healthcare, assistive devices, vocational training and other forms of support to persons with disabilities across the country.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang, who was represented at the event by Hon. Dr. Samuel Ofosu-Ampofo, said the government remained committed to strengthening policies and interventions aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities.
She highlighted some of the measures being pursued by the government, including free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, increased allocations from the District Assemblies Common Fund and ongoing reforms to advance disability inclusion.
The Vice President also drew attention to the proposed Ability Village at Agortor-Kope, which she said would provide sustainable support through skills development, healthcare, rehabilitation and entrepreneurship.
According to her, persons with disabilities are an integral part of society, and efforts to promote their inclusion must extend beyond occasional interventions to become a consistent feature of national development planning and implementation.
She stressed the need for deliberate policies and sustained commitment to ensure that persons with disabilities have equal opportunities to contribute to the country’s development.
Prof. Opoku-Agyemang congratulated the organisers of the Day of Help initiative, the Charismatic Evangelistic Ministry, as well as the volunteers whose contributions have sustained the programme over the years.
By Gifty Boateng