The Disability and Social Development Advocacy Africa (DaSDA Africa) - also known as Positive Impact - has launched a year-long advocacy campaign to promote the African Disability Protocol (ADP) and champion the rights and freedoms of women with disabilities.

The initiative, titled "Advocacy and Sensitisation Exercise to Promote the African Disability Protocol," was launched at Anyinam in the Atiwa East District by Mr. Isaac Wadi, founder of DaSDA Africa, and Rev. Mrs. Perpetual Essel-Cobbah, Minister in Charge of the Methodist Church, Anyinam.

Funded by ADD International through the Disability Justice Fund for Women (DJFW), the 12-month project aims to empower persons with disabilities through sustained advocacy, social inclusion, and the promotion of equity.

As part of the launch, the organization unveiled its official theme song for the project titled “We Rise,” calling on all stakeholders - government, civil society, and communities - to rise to the cause of disability advocacy.

“Through this initiative, we aim to foster partnerships and collaborations with district assemblies, government agencies, and benevolent organizations,” said Mr. Wadi. He added that the campaign also seeks to push for policy changes that advance disability rights, particularly for women.

Call for Ratification of the African Disability Protocol

DaSDA Africa used the occasion to urge the Government of Ghana to ratify the African Disability Protocol, which only 15 African countries have ratified so far.

Rev. Mrs. Essel-Cobbah emphasized the continued marginalization of physically challenged persons in employment, education, and social life. She called on society to embrace inclusivity and abandon discriminatory practices.

“We must change how we treat people with disabilities — not out of sympathy, but with the respect and dignity every human deserves,” she noted.

Ghana Police Reaffirms Commitment to Disability Rights

Speaking at the event, Inspector Eunice Amuzu from the Domestic Violence and Victim Support Unit (DOVVSU) highlighted the Ghana Police Service’s commitment to protecting the rights of persons with disabilities.

“This advocacy effort aligns with the National Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), and Ghana’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities,” Inspector Amuzu said.

She noted that the Police Service is working to integrate disability studies into training curricula, ensure equitable access to justice, and uphold dignity in the treatment of persons with disabilities.

Broad Support from Stakeholders

The launch attracted support from departmental heads of the Atiwa East District Assembly, traditional and religious leaders, and representatives from the Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD).

The campaign reflects a growing multi-sectoral movement to reduce discrimination and strengthen social protection mechanisms for persons with disabilities - particularly women, who face compounded challenges of gender and disability.