Ghana Somubi Dwumadie (Ghana Participation Programme), a four year disability programme, has launched its second edition proposals programme of awarding GHȻ11 million as grants to civil society organisations (CSOs) with specific focus on mental health and disability.
The primary objective of the grants are to enhance the wellbeing and empower persons with disabilities, including mental health, reducing of stigma and discrimination and to generate evidence through research to inform policy and practice on disability and mental health.
Organisations eligible to sauce for the grants include disability institutions, self-help groups, women’s rights organisations, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Research institutions, Universities and media organisations to conduct research or social and behaviour change activities.
Ghana Somubi Dwumadie has therefore challenged the said organisations to draw up proposals for the funding and be focused on projects which are evidence based and effectiveness for mental health and disability inclusion interventions, and ensure that people with disabilities, including people with mental health disabilities.
Speaking at the launching ceremony Lyla Adwan-Kamara, Team Leader of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie said advocacy by the various organisations be intensified to help reduce stigma and discrimination of persons with disability and mental health, and pointed out that issues relating to the victims have been under prioritised for far too long.
According to her, inadequate data on such persons in the society makes it impossible to effectively implement policies and programmes on mental health and disability and again disclosed that 20% of the population of Ghana have some form of disability.
Mr Lawrence Akubori of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie said organisations from the 16 regions across the country are eligible to apply for the grants based on the requisite information on the application as grants is also made available for applicants to apply for COVID-19 activities.
Rita Kusi Kyeremaa of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled called for support for persons with dsability and explained that they are abused and suffer stigmatisation hence advocacy about their plight be enhanced in order to deepen their participation in decision making in the society.
For his part, Dr. Isaac Annan, Director of Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) said CHRAJ have introduced a mechanism which deals with all forms of stigma and discrimination related complaints and provides appropriate remedies and calls for the need to intensify public awareness for dealing with stigma and discrimination.
Ben Laryea reporting from Accra, Ghana
