Women with Disabilities Empowered to Take Charge of their future through EU Funded project by ABAK and Sightsavers

The ABAK Foundation together with Sightsavers Ireland and with funding support from the European Union, has organised a stakeholders’ workshop aimed at strengthening, enlightening, and equipping women with disabilities to take charge of their lives and actively participate in decision-making processes.

The project, titled “Strengthening Civil Society Representation of Women With Disabilities in Ghana,” seeks to build stronger partnerships between ABAK and broader advocacy movements across its operational areas.

The Chairperson for ABAK Foundation Ghana Madam Abigail Manu; who is also a Woman with Disability highlighted the need for all stakeholders to support the fight against Social stigma and discrimination that prevents women with disabilities from living up to their fullest potential in their communities.* She said the core objectives of the project include increasing the visibility of disability-related issues in mainstream advocacy, enhancing advocacy for disability inclusion, and promoting disability-responsive climate change initiatives in the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in Ghana.

Speaking at the workshop, Dorcas Dapaah, the Project Officer of ABAK Foundation, explained that the project goes beyond equipping the participants with knowledge.

“Aside from strengthening and enlightening them, we will amplify their voices, especially the women with disabilities, to be involved in decision-making in society,” she stated.

She further revealed that the initiative will extend beyond the workshop to benefit more regions. “ABAK Foundation, going forward, will also engage downstream organizations members in Bono, Bono East, Ashanti and Greater Accra for them to also benefit from this project,” Ms. Dapaah added.

According to her, the project will also support women with disabilities in accessing policies and resources that will guide their development. “After the workshop, we’ll build capacities of downstream groups to have the needed policies that will support them and strengthen their groups for wider advocacy actions,” she emphasised.

The workshop marks a significant step in addressing the challenges faced by women with disabilities and ensuring that their voices are not only heard but integrated into national development discourse.