The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations holds intergenerational dialogue

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) held a one-day intergenerational dialogue session in Accra on July 9, 2024, at the Sunlodge Hotel. The session brought together leaders of the member organizations of the Federation to interact with youth with disabilities within and without the Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs).

The intergenerational dialogue is part of strategies to bridge the gap in representation, participation and involvement of the youth in activities within the disability community and to address these concerns regarding their participation in decision-making processes. Bringing together the older and younger generations created a space for shared knowledge and experiences, which fostered mutual understanding and ultimately addressing the challenges that hinder youth contribution to their OPD.

Madam Rita Kusi Kyeremaa, Executive Director of the GFD gave the opening remarks. She emphasized the importance of collaboration between generations for the advancement of OPDs. The GFD, she stated, is committed to empowering youth wings within OPDs to become stronger advocates for their rights.

Dr. Peter Obeng Asamoah, Director of the Ghana Blind Union, in his contribution during the interactions, stressed that youth involvement is not merely a formality, but crucial for the sustainability of the OPDs. He advocated for empowering youth to taking up leadership roles. Without such a plan, Dr. Asamoah warned, the organizations risk collapses due to a lack of future leadership. He encouraged OPDs to make deliberate efforts to include the youth in their activities by inviting them into leadership roles and programs to bridge the generational gap.

A youth with disability, Karbu Nattey Richard from the Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism (GAPA), expressed frustration with the limited opportunities for youth participation. He pointed out instances where information on workshops and trainings was withheld until the last minute, hindering youth attendance. However, he acknowledged the importance of institutional knowledge and experience held by OPD leaders for youth development.

A key outcome of the session was that both the youth and older generations acknowledged their shortcomings and made commitments to work together for stronger organizations. The older generation which occupies most of the leadership positions in the OPDs resolved to modify their operational practices to ensure greater youth inclusion and empowerment.

The intergenerational dialogue session was made possible with support from the We can Work Programme, which is an 8-year programme that seeks to empower youth with disabilities in Africa to access economic and employment opportunities.