The Volta Physically Challenged Independent Group (VOLPHIG), an association of physically challenged people in the Volta Region, has said the passage of the Disability Bill alone cannot be a panacea to the problems facing them. It said it required collective and persistent advocacy and lobbying for the effective implementation of the legislation through the development of a strategy and working relationships with identified groups, stakeholders and government agencies to foster the speedy implementation of the Act. Addressing the fifth anniversary get-together of the group at Ho the board chairman of VOLPHIG, Mr Joseph Dehole Dometi, said the excellent support and encouragement over the years by development partners and donors was commendable, adding that it was a way of assisting persons with disability to enter and participate in the mainstream of national development. He mentioned them as MEND Trust of New Zealand, Democracy and Human Rights Fund of the US Embassy, Ibis West Africa, The Royals Netherlands Embassy, Feed the Mind of UK and the Voluntary Service Overseas(VSO). Mr Dometi said locally they were in partnership with five disability non-governmental organisations to form a network known as Volta Disability Network (VODIN). He said that revolving loans had been advanced to 135 members, mobility aids to over 90 members and residential vocational skills training and ICT for 21 members. The programme head of the Department of Social Welfare, Mr Peter Hlovor, assured them that the department would continue to discharge its statutory obligations to support VOLPHIG and others to promote the welfare of the physically challenged. He disclosed that with financial and material support from the Ho Municipal Assembly and the VSO the department had reactivated three projects in Tsawenu, Anyirawase and Awudome-Nkwanta. This he said was to provide equal opportunities for persons with disabilities to promote and protect their human rights as enshrined in the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. Source: Daily Graphic