In anticipation of the International Women’s Day 2021 on the 8th of March #IWD2021, GCAP publishes key reports from its #LeaveNoWomanBehind campaign. We encourage National Coalitions and Constituency Group and you, dear reader, to share your messages of solidarity and success, campaigns & statements to celebrate the liberation movement & the ongoing fight for equality using #IWD2021 #LeaveNoWomenBehind. This celebration will culminate on International Women’s Day 2021 with many activities across the globe.

Download & read the full report from Ghana here.

Women and girls in Ghana face discrimination for living with a disability and for being women. This double discrimination creates huge obstacles for the inclusion of women and Girls in Ghana.

However, with their personal determination, the support of their families and some assistance from the state, women with disabilities can succeed and achieve leadership positions. Our report which is part of the #LeaveNoWomenBehind Campaign showcases strong women and contextualizes the situation for women with disabilities in Ghana.

The major obstacles preventing people with disabilities, and especially women and girls with disabilities, from reaching their full potential, are the stigma attached to disability and the attitudes of the families and communities of women and girls with disabilities.

There are distressing accounts of religious and traditional beliefs that disability is curse visited upon disabled people and their families and that this curse can be lifted by harsh treatment. In contrast, as our report shows, with their personal determination, the support of their families and some assistance from the state, women with disabilities can succeed and achieve leadership positions, but this is not a majority experience.

The cost of exclusion of all women and girls, irrespective of ability in Ghana, is high, socially and financially for women themselves, as well as for their families and countries’ economies. Ghana’s sustainable growth is contingent on implementing gender equality measures with disability perspectives. Discrimination on any grounds is an obstacle to democracy and full citizenship. Ghana has ratified the Convention of Persons with Disabilities and must make better progress to ensure that all women and girls with disabilities enjoy their rights to its provisions, including to education, health, social protection and political participation as well as equal opportunities in leadership and decision-making at all levels. Such action will enable Ghana to harness the potential of all girls and women with disabilities and to reduce the inequalities they face on a daily Basis.