The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to disability inclusion after engaging with participants of an Amputee Awareness and Visibility Walk in Accra.
The event, organised by Smiles of Hope, formed part of activities marking Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month.
It brought together amputees and supporters to raise awareness of the realities, resilience, and challenges faced by persons living with limb loss and limb differences.
During the engagement, Smiles of Hope presented a petition and policy proposals to the Minister, calling for urgent and coordinated interventions to improve the welfare and inclusion of amputees in Ghana.
Presenting the petition, Founder of Smiles of Hope, Ms. Valeria Adzatia, highlighted major structural challenges affecting persons with limb loss.
These include the high cost and limited availability of prosthetic services, and limited economic opportunities.
The petition also raised concerns about the absence of structured pre- and post-amputation counselling protocols in healthcare facilities.
It noted that many patients undergo amputations without adequate emotional preparation and support.
Smiles of Hope further underscored the lack of a comprehensive national amputee database, stating that the absence of reliable data continues to hinder effective policy planning and targeted interventions for amputees.
The Minister acknowledged the concerns in the petition, describing them as reflections of the daily realities faced by many individuals working to rebuild their lives after amputation.
She stressed that disability inclusion must go beyond policy discussions and translate into practical support systems that restore dignity, independence, and equal opportunity for all persons with disabilities.
Hon. Dr. Lartey underscored the need to strengthen rehabilitation systems, improve access to assistive devices, and enhance social protection interventions targeted at vulnerable groups, including amputees.
The Minister assured that the Ministry would engage relevant stakeholders to review the proposals and explore practical pathways for implementation within existing social protection and disability inclusion frameworks.
She reiterated Government’s commitment to building an inclusive society where all persons, regardless of physical ability, are empowered to live with dignity and fully participate in the national development agenda.
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Source:
opemsuo.com