The Ghana Alliance for Mental Health and Development has called on the government to reserve at least five per cent of local government staffing opportunities for persons with disabilities as part of efforts to promote inclusive employment and eliminate discrimination.
The Alliance, also known as the Mental Health Alliance, said the proposed employment quota should be supported by clear implementation and monitoring mechanisms to ensure that persons with physical, mental and psychosocial disabilities have equal opportunities to secure jobs and participate fully in society.
In a statement to commemorate the 2026 World Mental Health Day, observed under the theme “Lived Experiences Heard, Real Voices, Real Change,” the Alliance urged the government, local authorities, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to translate policy commitments on disability inclusion and mental health into concrete action.
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It identified inclusive employment, sustainable mental health financing, the elimination of stigma and discrimination, and responsible media reporting as four priority areas requiring urgent attention.
The statement followed a two-day convening organised under the joint auspices of ADD International and BasicNeeds-Ghana to reflect on findings from a two-country research project on disability inclusion activism commissioned and funded by ADD International.
Calls for implementation of disability funding
The Alliance called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to ensure that the five per cent allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) for persons with disabilities is effectively used to support employable skills development and income-generating activities.
It also urged corporate organisations and private businesses to expand employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, particularly young people and women.
According to the Alliance, these measures would be more effective if the provisions of Ghana’s Labour Law and Disability Law were fully implemented.
Demands increased mental health financing
On mental health financing, the Alliance commended the government for including four mental health conditions under the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS).
However, it called for increased and sustainable domestic financing for mental health services, urging the government to operationalise the Mental Health Fund and provide it with adequate resources.
It said the move was necessary to support the full implementation of the Mental Health Law and improve access to essential mental health services.
Urges collective action against stigma
The Alliance further called for concerted efforts by individuals, families, communities, traditional authorities, religious leaders, social influencers and institutions to tackle stigma, prejudice and discrimination against persons with disabilities and people with lived experience of mental health conditions.
It stressed that affected persons must be actively included in social, economic, civic and political activities rather than being marginalised because of their conditions.
The Alliance also emphasised that persons with disabilities and people with lived experience of mental health conditions must play meaningful roles in designing programmes and services intended to support them.
It said their participation should go beyond consultations to ensure they have a genuine influence on decisions, policies and the allocation of resources that affect their lives.
Media urged to promote responsible reporting
The Alliance called on the media to adopt respectful language, protect the dignity and privacy of people with lived experience of mental health conditions, and avoid sensational reporting that reinforces negative stereotypes.
It encouraged media organisations to collaborate with civil society groups and the creative industry to produce documentaries, short films and public education campaigns aimed at challenging stigma and promoting inclusion.
The media, it added, also had an important role in holding institutions accountable for commitments made towards disability inclusion and mental health development.
Stakeholders urged to deliver measurable results
The Alliance called on the Ministry of Finance, the Administrator of the District Assemblies Common Fund and MMDAs to strengthen transparency and accountability in disability-related funding.
It also urged local government institutions to implement inclusive employment measures and called on national planning and employment agencies to integrate disability and mental health inclusion into development programmes.
Development partners, foundations and private businesses were encouraged to invest in inclusive employment, community-based mental health services, legal accountability and sustained anti-stigma campaigns.
“We cannot continue to celebrate commitments while people remain excluded from jobs, essential services and decisions that affect their lives. Inclusion must be reflected in budgets, employment opportunities, accessible services and measurable results,” the Alliance stated.
As Ghana joins the rest of the world to mark World Mental Health Day, the Alliance called on all stakeholders to move beyond promises and take practical steps to protect human rights, expand opportunities and build a society in which persons with disabilities and people with mental health conditions can participate fully without discrimination.
The statement was signed by Dr Peter Badimak Yaro, Executive Director of BasicNeeds-Ghana and National Convenor of the Ghana Alliance for Mental Health and Development, on behalf of the Alliance.
By: Mohammed Suleman/ Publicagenda.news
