For

Immediate Release

Friday, 10th January, 2020

PRESS RELEASE

GFD LAUDS GOVERNENT’S RESPONSIVENESS TO APPOINT PERSONS WITH

DISABILITIES TO METROPOLITAN, MUNICIPAL AND DISTRICT ASSEMBLIES

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) applauds the government’s affirmative action to appoint
persons with disabilities to Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) as part of government’s
30 percent appointees in accordance with the Constitution of Ghana.

Government issued a directive through the Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development for the
appointment of at least one Person with Disability to all Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies. This
directive is contained in section 4 of Appendix ‘B’ (Criteria for the selection of Appointees) of the Ministerial
Guidelines dated 24th December, 2019 to open up local governance to more persons with disabilities
participation and involvement.

We are also pleased with the directive to district authorities to consult the branches of the Federation to ensure
that the appointees have adequate knowledge and skills to effectively represent the voice of Persons with
disabilities in their respective districts.

We have conveyed this pleasant news to our members and branches across the country and urged them to get
in touch with their MMDAs to actualize this provision and opportunity.

The Federation therefore wishes to urge Government to ensure all MMDAs comply strictly with this directive
contained in the guideline in the spirit of Social inclusion, social equity and with the principle of “Leaving No
One Behind”.

We are hopeful that the directive/guidelines will enable us deepen knowledge and acceptability of disability
and Persons with Disabilities and contribute to the development of Disability Inclusive policies and
programmes.

It is our fervent hope that this guideline will not be set aside like previous ones issued in 1998, 2002, 2006,
2010, and 2015 which were either not complied with or partially applied based on the wishes of the district
authorities.

The Federation and the entire Disability movement will keep on monitoring the process and outcome to
ensure that its full intent and purpose is realized.

SIGNED

MAWUNYOR YAKOR-DAGBAH
NATIONAL PRESIDENT OF GFD

Contacts: 0244753479 / 0240867200

Members of GFD:
• Ghana Blind Union * Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism
• Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled * Burn Survivors Foundation
• Ghana National Association of the Deaf * Mental Health Society of Ghana
• Inclusion Ghana (persons with intellectual disability) * Ghana Stammering Association
• ShareCare Ghana (people with auto-immune and neurological disorders)