Executive Directors as well as members of Engage Now Africa (ENA) and the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA) have called on government to fully implement Regional Albinism Action Plan which seeks to create albinism awareness and to fight against all forms of abuses against Persons with Albinism.  

They made this clarion call while commemorating the International Albinism Awareness Day.

Albinism is a congenital disorder in individuals who lack partial or absolute pigment in the skin, eyes and hair. Over the years, there have been reports of cruel attacks meted out to People with Albinism, notably ritual murders and severe discrimination.

It is in this light that the Engage Now Africa (ENA), a humanitarian organisation, and the Ghana Association of People with Albinism (GAPA) have joined forces to create awareness among the public about albinism as well as the human rights of people with albinism on the theme “Strength Beyond All Odds”.

The Executive Director of ENA, Francis Yaw Ansah opined that People with Albinism endure skin cancers, torture, unemployment and other life-threatening issues which require interventions from government, stakeholders as well as humanitarian organisations to come on board to increasingly create awareness about their predicament.

He further indicated that ENA is fighting on all fours to ensure PWAs get access to social protection through many of its benevolent services, including free supply of cancer preventive sunshade cream, yet, lack of funds sometimes hinders their efforts.

In addition, Newton Katseku, Executive Director of GAPA maintained that, even though Ghana is a signatory to the Regional Albinism Action Plan, government has not yet put up policies to ensure members get access to social protection.

To this end, he called on government to fully implement the action plan, include necessary drugs for members on the National Health Insurance drug policy, help members get access to textbooks which have legible font size and help curtail the problem of cultural banishment of persons with albinism.

Paul Allen, a student who suffers from poor vision, due to the condition, also encouraged members to stand strong against all odds.