About us

About GFD

The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), formerly known as Ghana Federation of the Disabled, was established in 1987 as a national umbrella of organisations of persons with disabilities with full legal status under the laws of Ghana. The goal of GFD is to mobilize persons with disabilities to provide a unified front in influencing national policies and promote the participation of all persons with disabilities in society. The GFD is governed by a constitution. The Federation has grown from its founding membership of three (3) to nine (9) as at 2022. The GFD current membership are Ghana Blind Union, Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Ghana National Association of the Deaf, Mental Health Society of Ghana, Inclusion Ghana, Ghana Association of Persons with Albinism, Share Care Ghana, Ghana Stammering Association and Burn Survival Foundation. Apart from the nine (9) member organizations who have full membership status, the GFD accepts Associate membership. GFD has branches in all the 16 administrative regions and in 250 out of 261 districts of Ghana.

Over the past 35 years of its existence, GFD has diversified and increased in its strategic interests, programming, governance system, staffing and partnerships to be able to influence policies, reach more members and emerging groups of persons with disabilities, and make positive impact in their lives. Our key strategies include rights-based advocacy, capacity development of organisations of persons with disabilities, empowerment of persons with disabilities and their stakeholders, organizational strengthening, partnership building and networking. We work with the Media to increase visibility and influence change in society. We recognize and work with the Laws of Ghana including the Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), the principles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and other International Rights Treaties/Conventions.

We journey on as we aim to sustain our efforts to continue being the legitimate mouthpiece of persons with disabilities, bringing change in the lives of 2.8million Ghanaians with disabilities in rural and urban communities in Ghana.

Our Vision

Our vision is “an inclusive society for all Persons with Disability in Ghana”.

Our Mission

We exist to advocate the rights of Persons with Disability by influencing policies, programmes and activities at the national and local levels and to strengthen the organisations of Persons with Disability.

Our Mandate

Policy Advocacy

As an organisation of persons with disabilities, our efforts are directed at advocating and monitoring national policies and programmes to promote disability inclusiveness. Our strategies include preparation of policy briefs, engaging stakeholders, policy makers and media, research and data gathering. Advocacy priorities are guided by the Federation’s National Advocacy Strategy.

Organisational Strengthening

The development and sustainability of our members and other organisations of persons with disaiblities are critical in the delivery of the Federation’s core mandate. The Federation strives to identify the capacity gaps of its members empower them when possible. It also supports mobilization of other persons with disabilities who are not represented on the Federation to form associations and lead in their own advocacy. GFD’s capacity building efforts also target its internal structures, systems and process as well as its branches at the grassroots levels - regional and district.

Our Core Values

Uphold human dignity

Respect

Equal rights for all

Fairness

Unity in diversity

Transparency

Accountability

"Disability is not a 'brave struggle' or 'courage in the face of adversity.' Disability is an art. It's an ingenious way to live."

– Neil Marcus

Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), formerly known as Ghana Federation of the Disabled now, was established in 1987 as a national umbrella of organisations of persons with disabilities with the full legal status under the laws of Ghana

About Us