The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has reaffirmed Government’s commitment to disability inclusion following her participation in the Amputee Awareness and Visibility Walk organised by Smiles of Hope in Accra.
The event, held to mark Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month, brought together amputees and supporters to highlight resilience, lived realities and the challenges faced by persons living with limb loss.
As part of the engagement, Smiles of Hope presented a petition and policy proposals to the Minister, calling for urgent interventions to improve the welfare and inclusion of amputees. Founder of the organisation, Ms. Valeria Adzatia, outlined structural challenges including the high cost and limited availability of prosthetic services, restricted economic opportunities, and the absence of structured counselling protocols for patients undergoing amputation.
The petition also underscored the lack of a comprehensive national amputee database, noting that the absence of reliable data continues to hinder effective policy planning and targeted interventions.
Responding, Dr. Lartey acknowledged the concerns as reflections of the daily realities faced by many individuals rebuilding their lives after amputation. She stressed that disability inclusion must extend beyond policy discussions to practical support systems that restore dignity, independence and equal opportunity.
The Minister emphasised the need to strengthen rehabilitation systems, improve access to assistive devices and enhance social protection interventions for vulnerable groups, including amputees. She assured that the Ministry would engage relevant stakeholders to review the proposals and explore pathways for implementation within existing frameworks.
Reiterating Government’s commitment, Dr. Lartey said the goal remains to build an inclusive society where all persons, regardless of physical ability, are empowered to live with dignity and fully participate in the national agenda.
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