Madam Abla Dzifa Gomashie, the Member of Parliament (MP) of Ketu South, has celebrated the New Year with Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in the municipality, reaffirming her commitment to promoting their welfare, inclusion and empowerment.
The engagement brought together PWDs and their caregivers from across the Ketu South Municipality, creating a platform for participants to interact directly with their MP and share their concerns, challenges and expectations.
Speaking to the Ghana News Agency (GNA), Madam Gomashie, who also serves as Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture, said interacting with PWDs and witnessing their determination to live independent and productive lives, continued to inspire her to support them.
“Every year, I invite them because I am the MP for both the abled and the disabled, or differently abled as I prefer to call them. For about 25 years, I volunteered on the Ghana Blind Union Board, so my passion for serving the differently abled people didn’t start today. ” she said.
During the interaction, members of the PWD community appealed for the establishment of a special school in the municipality to cater for their educational needs.
They explained that such a facility would help reduce the financial burden on families and provide the special attention required, to ensure quality education for learners with disabilities.
They also urged the MP to liaise with the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to consider their inclusion in the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme.
Additionally, they appealed to be included in government-supported skills training initiatives, to enhance their employability and self-reliance.
In response, Madam Gomashie advised the group to formally submit their requests through their leadership to enable her to forward them to the appropriate institutions for consideration and redress.
She encouraged the PWDs not to lose hope, assuring them of her continued advocacy on their behalf at the national level, to ensure their voices were heard and their needs addressed.
Mr Nicholas Ezu Waklatsi, the Municipal Chief Executive (MCE) for Ketu South, said the Assembly would work closely with the MP to present the concerns of PWDs to the relevant authorities for prompt attention.
He described the government as responsive and inclusive, adding that with the constituency represented by an MP who was passionate about the welfare of the constituents, issues affecting PWDs would remain a priority on the local development agenda.
Mr Dadolo Tekpa, a government appointee representing PWDs in the municipality, commended Madam Gomashie for her consistent support and responsiveness to disability-related issues.
He noted that the MP had supported several PWDs through enrolment in skills training programmes and the provision of working tools, which had helped improve their economic independence.
Mr Tekpa encouraged PWDs to continue supporting leaders who demonstrated genuine commitment to disability inclusion and placed the welfare of vulnerable groups at the centre of governance.
GNA
Editor by Maxwell Awumah/Christabel Addo
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O7 Jan. 2026
