Accra: Issues affecting children with disabilities in Ghana remain significantly under-reported, according to Mr. Daniel Lartey, Chairman of the employment committee of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD). On Monday, he urged the advocacy committee to integrate these issues into their advocacy programmes to ensure that the GFD becomes the primary source of information and support for these children and their families.

According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Lartey, who is visually impaired and teaches at the Akropong School for the Blind, emphasized the necessity of drawing governmental attention to the challenges faced by children with disabilities. This statement was made during the advocacy committee meeting of the GFD, where members convened to strategize their advocacy plans for the year and evaluate past efforts.

Dr. Peter Obeng-Asamoa, Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union, echoed Mr. Lartey's sentiments, calling on member organizations to prioritize the issues of children with disabilities within their individual advocacy efforts. Highlighting these issues is crucial to fostering an inclusive environment and ensuring that the needs of these children are adequately addressed.

Joseph Atsu Homadzi, President of the GFD, acknowledged that the organization has not sufficiently focused on the challenges faced by children with disabilities. He revealed that the GFD is in the process of establishing a National Parents support group. This initiative aims to empower parents to advocate effectively for their children and address the specific issues they encounter.