The document was launched by Madam Dakoa Newman, the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, supported by Dr Emmanuel Marfo, the Member of Parliament for Oforikrom and the Vice Chair of the recently inaugurated Disability Caucus in Parliament and Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, the President, Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations President, at the closing conference of Ghana Somubi Dwumadie.

The Minister said the launch of the revised guidelines marked a significant milestone of the collective advocacy of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities, Civil Society Organisations and strategic partners including the UN System.

The revised Guidelines make provisions for a standard reporting format, taking cognisance of the unique situation of parents and caregivers of children with disabilities.

It particularly recognises the different. categories of persons with disabilities and specifically includes persons with mental health conditions in the eligibility criteria.

The Leadership and Governance Advisor, Options-k-led Ghana Somubi Dwumadie, Madam Vivian F. Sarpomaa Fiscian, said the document aimed at impactfully promoting mental health inclusion into social protection interventions in Ghana.

She explained that the revisions focused on realigning the fund allocation areas and had made the composition of the Disability Fund Management Committee more user-involved, gender-inclusive, and ensured the inclusion of persons with mental health conditions, bringing it in line with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability (UNCPRD) as well as global commitments on disability.