The Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organisation (WODAO) has organised an orientation, mentorship, and coaching programme for some selected women with disabilities from their operational jurisdiction.

The programme, which saw the beneficiaries tutored in leadership, inclusion, empowerment, communication, and goal setting for women and girls with disabilities, among others, was aimed at promoting inclusion, especially at the decision-making table.

The Executive Director of WODAO, Ms Veronica Deny Kofiedu, described the programme as the beginning of a “transformative journey” for the beneficiaries towards attaining leadership roles and becoming effective leaders.

She indicated that “it is a transformative journey designed to bridge the gap between potential and opportunity, between lived experience and leadership.”

“Through this mentorship initiative, we are strengthening the voices of women with disabilities to participate fully and equally in development and decision-making spaces,” she added.

Madam Kofiedu explained that her organisation, together with its partners, is simply aiming to leave no woman or girl with a disability behind in leadership, advocacy, or economic participation.

Ms. Princess Lovia Tetteh, who made a presentation on behalf of the Volta Regional Director of Gender, asserted the significance of gender equality to socio-economic development and advocated that stringent measures must be taken to promote it.

She identified stereotypes, limited access to education and resources, and a lack of enough policies and legal frameworks as some setbacks to achieving gender equality.

She suggested formulating holistic policies and legal frameworks, ensuring comprehensive accessibility, physical and digital access, and accessible services, building capacity and challenging attitudes, and awareness training, among others, as measures to adopt to promote gender equality in Ghana.

The orientation, mentorship, and coaching programme was made possible through the support of the European Union, Sightsavers, and other partners.