The Keta Municipal Assembly, through its Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, has organised an election to select representatives of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) in the Municipality.
The election, held at the Keta Municipal Assembly Hall, was on the theme: “Strengthening Disability Inclusion Through Democratic Representation and Effective Advocacy.”
Mr Fred Selorm Kasu, Head of the Department of Social Welfare and Community Development, said the election marked an important step towards strengthening the participation of persons with disabilities in local governance and decision-making.
He stressed that the Department remained a key partner in ensuring that the voices of persons with disabilities were reflected in policies and programmes affecting their lives.
Delegates also benefited from an education session on effective advocacy for disability organisations, facilitated by Mr Godwin Kumah of the Eye-to-Eye Foundation. Madam Elikplim Klu Afua, Volta Regional President of the GFD, also briefed them on the GFD Constitution, election guidelines and responsibilities of municipal representatives.
Mr Kasu said three teams—Team Cherita Kudoda, Team Godsway Mensah and Team Marshall Degbey—contested the election.
At the end of voting and counting, Team Godsway Mensah polled 16 votes to emerge for winners, while Team Cherita Kudoda and Team Marshall Degbey secured 10 votes each.
Mr Godsway Mensah was subsequently declared President of the GFD, Keta Municipality. His team includes Miss Sandra Doamekpor as Vice President, Mr Elorm Tamakloe as Youth Representative and Madam Peace Sabah as Gender Representative.
Mr Mensah, in an interview with the Ghana News Agency after the election, thanked delegates and members of the various Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) for the confidence reposed in him and his team.
He pledged to work with all groups and drew on the experience of former executives to promote unity, inclusion, and effective advocacy within the disability movement.
Mr Mensah expressed commitment to championing advocacy programmes that would enable persons with disabilities and their organisations to access opportunities, including the three per cent allocation of the Disability Fund meant to support persons with disabilities in the Municipality.
Mr Robert Kotey Ashie, Unit Head of the Department of Social Welfare, urged the newly elected representatives and group leaders to view their positions as a call to service and strengthen collaboration, accountability, communication and advocacy across the Municipality.
Mr Noah Yao Agbemazi, Social Services Chairman, congratulated the newly elected representatives and advised them to prioritise unity.
He said a united disability movement would be better positioned to mobilise resources, engage stakeholders and advocate for improved opportunities and services for persons with disabilities.
Mr Saviour Agbeviade, representative of the Municipal Coordinating Director, pledged that the Municipal Assembly would continue to support persons with disabilities in the area to improve their opportunities and living standards.
He expressed satisfaction with the election and urged persons with disabilities to remain united and work collaboratively for the success of all members.
The election brought together delegates from various OPDs, representatives of disability groups, stakeholders, members of the Electoral and Organising Committee, and other invited dignitaries.