Press Release: Ghana Somubi Dwumadie Supports Four Grantees to Reduce Stigma and Discrimination against People with Disabilities and Mental Health Conditions

Accra, Ghana – 23rd July 2024

Ghana Somubi Dwumadie has supported four grantees to reduce stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities and mental health conditions in a range of communities across the country.

At an event celebrating the most significant change stories from communities, as well as key learnings, Team Leader of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, Lyla Adwan-Kamara said the grantees ought to be celebrated because they worked tirelessly to ensure that people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions, are in the lead on approaches to improve their wellbeing, social and economic outcomes, and rights.

The event screened four films at Fiesta Royale Hotel in Accra on Tuesday. Films featured the most significant change stories of successful grantee projects under their Evidence and Effectiveness Grants, highlighting the impact of their work and reflecting the dedication, innovation, and positive outcomes achieved by people with disabilities and mental health conditions.

With funds offered as small and large grants based on capacity and priority areas, nine) organisations were engaged under the Evidence and Effectiveness grant - including five small grants that closed in July 2022 and four large grants that ended in October 2023. The four organisations who were engaged under the large grants include Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), Hope for Future Generation working with The PsyKForum, Africa Disability Institute (formerly Voice Ghana), and Songtaba. The specific objectives of the grants were:

• To improve the wellbeing of, and empower people with disabilities, including mental health conditions, through evidence-based approaches to improve integration and accessibility of mental health and social services and user-led advocacy initiatives;

• To reduce stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities, including people with mental health conditions; and

• To generate evidence through research to inform policy and practice on disability and mental health needs, programmes and interventions.

The work of the grantees has clearly identified key approaches that work in achieving social behaviour change and in addressing stigma and discrimination against people with disabilities and mental health conditions. These include development of positive disability language guides; the involvement of people with disabilities in local decision-making, the importance of engaging people in positions of power, and use of sanctions at the community level.

Media Contact

For further information, please contact: 

Dorcas Mensah

Communications Manager, Ghana Somubi Dwumadie

055 829 5768 | d.mensah@ghanasomubi.com

Michael Tetteh Doku

Communications Officer, Ghana Somubi Dwumadie

054 629 7991 | m.doku@ghanasomubi.com