Latest News

25TH FEBRUARY 2013 – VOICE GHANA IMPLEMENTS A 2-YEAR HEALTH  PROJECT WITH 3 OTHER CSOs

VOICE GHANA has partnered the Royals Health Organization (ROHEO) at Jasikan, Global Action for Women Empowerment (GLOWA) at Ho and Progressive Youth Alliance (PYA) at Jasikan to implement a two year project titled: “Mobilizing grassroots level participation for effective implementation of the Patient Charter for persons with disabilities and Rural Women” in the Jasikan, Kadjebi, Krachi East, Nkwanta North and Nkwanta South Districts, all in the Volta Region of Ghana. The project, which commenced in February 2013, is funded by STAR Ghana - Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana (www.star-ghana.org) and its donor partners: DFID, EU, DANIDA and USAID. Continue by reading a succinct synopsis of the project.

24TH JANUARY 2013 - VOICE GHANA APPRECIATES THE KIND GESTURE OF JOHN MOLLER FOUNDATION, DENMARK

The Board and Management of VOICE GHANA would like to express their profound gratitude and thanks to the Board and Management of John Moller Foundation, in Denmark for sponsoring the purchase of this car for our field and official errands.

This investment will indeed enable us to touch the lives of thousands of people with disabilities in villages and remote communities of Ghana including children.

We would be most grateful, if other like-minded organisations can emulate the good work of this Foundation and support our work in kind or cash so that together we can promote the rights and needs of persons with disabilities at the grassroots level in Ghana.

9 January 2013 - TRIBUTE FROM VOICE GHANA
IN THE MEMORY OF THE LATE JOHN RASMUS SLOTH MOLLER


The passing of John is an incalculable loss to VOICE GHANA, the disability movement, and to his many admirers and friends in Ghana. Indeed we have lost one of the great trailblazers of the faith, who at the time of his death was justly considered one of the eminent disability politicians in Denmark.

John joined VOICE GHANA in September 2005 and was elected as a Board member in the same year. He was one of the pillars behind the growth of the organization.

He helped to build a solid foundation for VOICE GHANA, for a promising future. He has also contributed immensely in cash and kind to the development of the organization.

It is hard to find suitable words to pay a tribute to this truly remarkable man.
We have indeed lost a visionary leader, a father, a counselor who was full of vigor and ideas, and a friend to everybody.

A life well lived and a job well done. John, we will forever miss you.

May Your Soul Rest in Perfect Peace!!

By Board and Management
VOICE GHANA

10th December 2012
VOICE GHANA MARKS INTERNATIONAL DAY OF THE DISABLED WITH PEACE WALK

VOICE GHANA joined hundreds of people with disabilities to stage a peace walk on the principal streets of Agortime-Kpetoe to mark the International Day of the Disabled on 3rd December 2012 to drum home the need for peace during and after the Ghana’s Elections on 7th December 2012.


We used the opportunity to appeal to the Electoral Commission to ensure reasonable means of access to polling stations for eligible voters especially persons with disabilities.

We also called on all political parties to appeal to their supporters to put Mother Ghana first and refrain from any act that has the tendency of undermining the peace we are enjoying now.

This is because when there is war, it is we, persons with disabilities who will suffer most. Download the full text of our Press Release at the event, below

You can also read the full story from the Ghana News Agency and Ghana Decides links here: http://ghananewsagency.org/politics/people-with-disabilities-appeal-for-peace-on-election-day-and-after-53305 

http://ghanadecides.com/international-day-of-persons-with-disabilities-marked-in-ho/ 

23 Nov - Leticia with her new limb, a Christmas present happily sponsored by MEND NZ 's supporters ! Being able to walk well now is a nice Christmas present. Currently she is under training at the Orthopedic Training Center Nsawam, Accra, Ghana

VOICE GHANA held a press conference on Tuesday, 25th September 2012 at Hotel Stevens, Ho to launch a campaign dubbed “Disabled Children for School”. The campaign is targeted at parents/guardians/care-givers of children with disabilities in the Ho Municipality to send their disabled children of school going age (who are currently not in school) to school in line with Section 16(1) of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
Continue by downloading the full Press Statement.

24th August, 2012
VOICE GHANA PRESENTS POSITION PAPER TO POLITICAL PARTIES ON THE NEEDS OF THE DISABLED


VOICE GHANA presented a Position Paper to Political Parties and Aspiring Parliamentarians contesting the 2012 general elections in the Agotime-Ziofe and Adaklu Constituencies on issues of concern that persons with disabilities would like Aspiring Parliamentarians to include in their development plans and implement for them when elected. Read the full Position Paper….

Photo: VOICE GHANA discussing issues in the Position Paper with the NDC Constituency Executives of Agortime-Ziofe Constituency at Kpetoe.

16th August 2012:
STAR Ghana – Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana ( www.star-ghana.org ) on behalf of its donor partners (DFID, EU, DANIDA, and USAID) is supporting VOICE GHANA to implement a 3-year Sustainability Step Change Plan.

STAR Ghana’s CSO sustainability strategy seeks to:
1. Develop influential CSOs that can bring about meaningful change and improvement in citizens’ lives;
2. Engender organisational sustainability strategies which demonstrate they can develop and implement effective long term business strategies with accountable leadership, high quality staff, sound management systems, transparent systems for decision making and implementation;
3. Move organisations to higher levels of performance and gain increasing independence from donors by diversifying funding sources including INGOs, the private sector, the public sector and others, as well as generating their own funds.

VOICE GHANA seeks to achieve the following at the end of the project:
1. Have a strong performance management system in place.
2. Increase proficiency level of Board members in governance, strategic planning and decision making.
3. Increase effective performance and capacity of staff to impact on efficiency and effectiveness of the organization.
4. Have proper administrative systems, practices and procedures in place.
5. Develop and practice a 5-Year Strategic Plan, Communication Strategy, Marketing Plan and PM&E System.
6. Increase financial management and planning skills of management to expand our funding base to continue functioning as a robust and independent CSO for persons with disabilties at the grassroots level in Ghana.

10TH JULY 2012: VOICE GHANA HELD BREAKFAST MEETING WITH THE
HO MUNICIPAL CHIEF EXECUTIVE


VOICE GHANA held a breakfast meeting at Chance Hotel, Ho with the Ho Municipal Chief Executive, Hon. Isaac Kotobisah and the Presiding Member, Hon. Mathew M. Atsrim. Also in attendance were key members of the Management Committee for the 2% District Assembly Common Fund for persons with disabilities in the Ho Municipality.
This was to discuss possible ways to waive payment of PTA dues and other levies for children with disabilities at the basic school level in the Municipality in line with Section 18(1) of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006. Hon. Isaac Kotobisah agreed to pass a bye law to that effect.

18 May 2012 - VOICE GHANA HELD 10TH ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Voice of People with Disability –VOICE GHANA, held another successful AGM on 13th May 2012 at Kekeli Hotel, Ho the Volta Region, Ghana. In all, 126 members attended the AGM. Click here to view photos of the AGM.

The following decisions were taken:

1. Amendment of Constitution
The new Constitution focuses more on membership of Self-Help Group (SHG) and Affiliate Groups of Disabled People Organisations (DPOs) who are ready to join VOICE GHANA. By accepting the new constitution, all future Annual General Meetings will be made of only the representatives of SHGs from all over the region and beyond. The amendment also included Non-Discrimination and Indemnity Clauses. Continue by downloading the full Constitution.

2. Approval of Annual Report and Audited Account 2011
The Annual Report and Audited Account 2011 were also approved by the AGM. Note: The reports will be published on the website soon.

3. Election of New Executive Board
Six (6) new Executive Board members comprising four (4) male and two (2) female were elected by the AGM to provide governance to the organization for the next four (4) years. This includes three (3) former Board members. The Board held their first meeting after the AGM to elect their leaders and also co-opt two (2) male and one (1) female into the Board in fulfillment of the Constitution. Click here to view photos of the New Executive Board.

1st February 2012 - VOICE GHANA Commends PPMC, Ho.

VOICE GHANA is grateful to the Procurement & Project Management
Consultancy – PPMC (Consultant of GETFund schools projects in some parts
of the Volta Region of Ghana) for performing their statutory
responsibilities by holding their contractors in check to add on access
ramps to their new schools structures in the Ho Municipality for persons
with disabilities. Continue by downloading the full Press Release

26 January - VOICE GHANA AND ELECTION 2012

VOICE GHANA signed a US$36,280.75 contract with STAR-GHANA (www.star-ghana.org) on 23rd January, 2012 to carry out advocacy to ensure manifestos and development plans for all Aspiring Parliamentarians in the Ho East Constituency take cognizance of issues for persons with disabilities, particularly women, children and the youth for whoever gets elected to address.

VOICE GHANA will also promote disability friendly voter registration centres and polling stations in the Ho East Constituency so that more eligible people with disabilities can partake in the 2012 general election. The project will also facilitate the process for Electoral Commission Offices at Ho and Kpetoe to involve some persons with disabilities as their Polling Assistants for the elections in December, 2012.

18 January 2012 - VOICE GHANA GETS FURTHER VOLUNTEER SUPPORT

Gerry McGeoch, a former volunteer is providing a further short term volunteer support to VOICE GHANA from 24th January to 6th February 2012. Gerry’s main task will be to support the staff and Board to:

1. Review our 3-Year Sustainability Step Change Plan, which we are currently developing for funding consideration by STAR-Ghana (www.star-ghana.org).

2. Review our M&E Framework being developed by CICADA Consult in Accra with STAR Ghana's support.

3. Review our policy and procedures manual, job contract/staff performance appraisal/self-appraisal forms including the constitution and strategic plan.

4. Review Claire Ford's recommendations with our Finance/Administrative Officer, Management and the Board including recommendations by Deloitte Audit Report 2010 and Management Report 2010 and to make further recommendations for consideration by the Board.

8 November - VOICE GHANA Receives AfID Volunteer

Claire Ford, a volunteer from the British Agency, Accounting for International Development - AfID ( www.afid.org.uk ) has arrived at VOICE GHANA on 3rd November 2011. Claire Ford is providing a short term support and training to Millicent Dufie Denteh, our Finance/ Administrative Officer for a period of three weeks to improve upon her skills and experience in controlling accounts of the organisation.

24th October 2011 - NOTICE OF CHANGE OF NAME

We have the pleasure to inform our Partners/Donors/Friends of VOICE GHANA that pursuant to Section 15(9) of the Companies Code, 1963 (Act 179), we the Board, staff and members of the Volta Physically Challenged Independent Group (VOLPHIG) have registered alteration of the name of our organization with the Registrar General’s Department in Accra, Ghana from
VOLTA PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED INDEPENDENT GROUP (VOLPHIG) to VOICE OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITY GHANA (VOICE GHANA).... Click here for the full text

10th October 2011 - STAR-GHANA EDUCATION SECTOR CALL PROJECT APPROVED

STAR-Ghana (Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana) www.star-ghana.org  has awarded an amount of One Hundred Thousand US Dollars (US$100,000) to VOICE GHANA today, 10th October, 2011 for a project proposal submitted to them in September 2011. The project seeks to carry out advocacy for implementation of key Sections of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) on education of children with disability. The project will work at three different levels to ...................
Continue by downloading the full news

13 Sept - VOICE GHANA EVENTS - OCTOBER – DECEMBER 2011

Board Meetings: 16th October, 13th November and 4th December 2011

Events to introduce our New Name (Voice Ghana), Logo and Website:

• Briefing session with key stakeholders: October 2011

• Press conference: November 2011

• General meeting: November 2011

International Day of the Disabled - 3rd December 2011

12 Sept - APPEAL FOR FUND - Benjamin Hodzo is a 35 year old physically disabled person and a tailor. He lives in Ave-Atanve in the Akatsi District of the Volta Region, Ghana. Benjamin was involved in a motor accident on 25th July 2010, resulting in complete loss of his left ear. Benjamin now experiences severe headache and can’t continue his tailoring work. He needs Two Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHC2,000.00) about US$1,334 to undergo a plastic surgery at the Okomfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Kumasi. The family could not afford to raise the money and he is therefore appealing to organisations, churches or individuals for support. Click for More

6 Sept 2011 - VOLPHIG has received funding from the STAR-Ghana - Strengthening Transparency, Accountability and Responsiveness in Ghana www.star-ghana.org to carry out vigorous advocacy to ensure school structures in the Ho Municipality are made accessible for use by persons with disability. VOLPHIG’s focus is on basic and second cycle schools in the municipality. As part of this project, VOLPHIG conducted a comprehensive accessibility audit on 216 basic and senior high school structures (existing and new structures) between 26th April and 9th June 2011 to ascertain accessibility status of these structures.

The findings indicated gross abuse of Sections 6 and 60 of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act, 715), which mandates owners and occupiers of public buildings including schools to provide easy access for persons with disabilities.
Click here to download full survey report.

3 Nov 2010 - Press Release on Voice Donation to RTC, Ho

Voice of People with Disabilities in Ghana (Voice), a major organisation in the Volta Region representing the human rights of individuals with disabilities is pleased to be donating to the Ho Rehabilitation Training Centre (RTC), 2 computers and accessories. The Chairperson of Voice Mr. Paul Fiavi said he is pleased the organisation continues to be working in partnership with the Regional Social Welfare Department. Voice has had a closer working relationship with RTC and Social Welfare, since the organisation was funded in March 2002.
Continue by downloading the full Press Release