Dr Djaba, also the former Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, said PWDs constituted more than three per cent of Ghana’s population, yet their concerns remained largely marginalised in national development planning. 

She made theis statement in an interview at the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities at Somanya, in the Yilo Krobo Municipality of the Eastern Region. 

“Some people are born with disabilities, while others acquire them through illness, accidents, or old age. It could be you, your child, a family member, or a friend,” she said. 

She explained that “disability is a natural part of human life, and if a person lives long, they are likely to experience some form of physical limitations, making inclusion and accessibility a shared societal responsibility.” 

Dr Djaba identified accessibility as one of the most pressing challenges confronting persons with disabilities, calling for practical and deliberate actions to ensure their full participation in society. 

“In Ghana, accessibility remains a serious problem. There are no proper road signs or indicators for blind persons, and boarding public transport is often difficult. For someone in a wheelchair who cannot walk, even boarding an aircraft can become impossible,” she stated. 

She cited instances where airlines failed to provide appropriate spaces for mobility aids such as crutches, describing these situations as discriminatory. 

Dr Djaba highlighted discrimination in education, social interventions, and economic activities, noting that some people refused to transact business with PWDs due to the mistaken belief that disability was contagious. 

She called on the government to enforce existing laws particularly those related to education, to ensure that children with disabilities were not hidden at home or sent to prayer camps but were enrolled in schools. 

“Children with disabilities should not be on the streets begging. They should be in school and at workplaces, doing what other people are doing. Public spaces must also be made accessible,” she said. 

Dr. Djaba expressed concern about the lack of basic facilities in schools such as lifts, instead of forcing students in wheelchairs to be carried, a situation she described as undignified and unacceptable. 

She also commented on the low representation of persons with disabilities in governance, pointing to their limited presence in Parliament and at the district assembly level. 

She said disability should not deny any citizen the right to participate fully in national life, as the 1992 Constitution guaranteed equal rights for all Ghanaians without discrimination. 

The Henry Djaba Memorial Foundation’s advocacy targets the entire society, focusing on promoting awareness of the rights and responsibilities toward persons with disabilities and changing negative public attitudes.. 

She called on the citizens to actively participate in raising awareness about disability issues. 

“Persons with disabilities are part of us. Their lives matter, and it is important that we all join hands to promote inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunities for them,” she said. 

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities was climaxed with a float through the principal streets of Somanya, where participants marched with placards. 

Inscriptions on the placards were: “Would You Like My Disability?”,  “I Can Be Educated Even If I Am in a Wheelchair,”  “PWDs’ Lives Matter,”  “Disability Has No Age Limit,”  “Do Not Discriminate Against Me Because I Am Disabled,” among others. 

The celebration also featured indoor games, health screening, and interactive sessions aimed at promoting inclusion, wellbeing, and public awareness of disability issues.