UE/R: SOCO PROJECT FACILITATORS URGED TO WORK HARD FOR THE SUCCESS OF THE PROJECT – DCE NABDAM
By – Sadat Dabo
The Ghana Alliance for Mental Health and Development has challenged the government to move beyond public promises on disability inclusion and mental healthcare, demanding a 5% employment quota in local government staffing for persons with disabilities and urgent action to address persistent funding gaps
The Alliance says Ghana cannot claim progress in mental health advocacy while persons with disabilities and people with lived experience of mental health conditions continue to face barriers to employment, essential services and participation in decisions affecting their lives
In a statement issued to mark the 2026 World Mental Health Day, observed under the theme Lived Experiences Heard, Real Voices, Real Change, the Alliance called on the government, Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs), development partners and private businesses to translate policy commitments into measurable results
The statement followed a two-day workshop held in Tamale from October 8 to 9, jointly organised and funded by ADD International and BasicNeeds-Ghana, to discuss findings from a two-country research project on disability inclusion activism
5% jobs quota: A fresh test for local government
At the centre of the Alliance’s demands is a proposal for a 5% employment quota in local government staffing for persons with disabilities, backed by clear implementation and monitoring mechanisms
The group argues that inclusive employment must go beyond policy declarations to provide real opportunities for persons with physical, mental and psychosocial disabilities, particularly young people and women
It has also called on MMDAs to strictly apply the 5% District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) allocation for disability-related support to improve employable skills, promote income-generating activities and strengthen economic independence
The Alliance further urged corporate organisations and private businesses to increase employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, insisting that the full implementation of Ghana’s labour and disability laws is essential to achieving meaningful inclusion
The proposal raises a critical question for local authorities: how effectively are existing disability-related funding arrangements and employment commitments translating into sustainable jobs and livelihoods?
Mental health financing under scrutiny
The Alliance has also called on the government to significantly increase funding for mental healthcare, arguing that policy commitments must be backed by adequate financial resources
While acknowledging the inclusion of four mental health conditions under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the group says the government must take further steps to operationalise the Mental Health Fund and adequately resource it through domestic revenue mobilisation
According to the Alliance, fully financing the fund is essential to implementing Ghana’s mental health legislation and improving access to support services.
Without sustainable financing, it warns, people who need mental health support risk remaining underserved despite existing laws and policy commitments
Stigma and discrimination remain major barriers
Beyond jobs and funding, the Alliance has called for a nationwide effort to confront stigma, prejudice and discrimination against persons with disabilities and people with lived experience of mental health conditions.
It wants families, communities, traditional authorities, religious leaders, public figures and institutions to take an active role in promoting the inclusion of affected persons in economic, civic and political activities
The group has also stressed that persons with disabilities must not be treated merely as beneficiaries of social interventions but must be given meaningful decision-making roles in the design and implementation of programmes intended to support them
For the Alliance, inclusion means ensuring that the voices of affected people directly influence policies, services and the allocation of public resources
Media challenged over sensational reporting
The Alliance has placed particular responsibility on the media, urging journalists and media organisations to abandon sensationalism and adopt respectful, rights-based reporting on mental health and disability
It called for the protection of the dignity and privacy of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, while encouraging partnerships between the media, civil society and the creative industry to produce documentaries, short films and public education campaigns that challenge harmful stereotypes
The group also wants the media to hold public institutions accountable for commitments made on disability inclusion, mental health financing and access to services
Government agencies urged to deliver measurable results
The Alliance has called on the Ministry of Finance, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund and MMDAs to strengthen transparency in disability-related expenditure
It further wants local government institutions to operationalise inclusive employment measures and national planning and employment agencies to integrate mental health and disability inclusion into development programmes.
Development partners, foundations and private businesses have also been encouraged to invest in inclusive employment, community-based mental health services, legal accountability and sustained anti-stigma campaigns
“We cannot continue to celebrate commitments while people remain excluded from jobs, essential services and decisions that affect their lives. Inclusion must be reflected in budgets, employment opportunities, accessible services and measurable results,” the Alliance stated
A network of more than 128 organisations
The Ghana Alliance for Mental Health and Development is a national network of more than 128 civil society organisations, non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations and individuals with physical and mental disabilities engaged in mental health advocacy
As Ghana marks World Mental Health Day 2026, the Alliance is calling for a shift from awareness campaigns and public commitments to concrete action that protects human rights, expands employment opportunities and improves access to mental healthcare
The ultimate test, it says, will be whether persons with disabilities and people with lived experience of mental health conditions can secure decent jobs, access essential support and influence the decisions that shape their lives
Source – gbcuraonline.com
