Mr Auberon Jeleel Odoom, National Coordinator of Inclusion Ghana and Secretary General of the Africa Disability Forum, has proposed independent watchdog groups to track government commitments, enforce disability laws, and ensure that funds are used effectively.
He also suggested transparent donor-Organisation of Persons with Disability (OPD) engagements, ensuring that funding priorities align with real needs.
Mr Odoom was a member of a panel that discussed: “Shrinking Aid & Disability Inclusion” at the Global Disability Summit (GDS) 2025.
The Global Disability Summit is underway in Berlin, Germany.
The Global Disability Summit aims to galvanize global efforts to realize disability inclusion around the world.
It is a mechanism bringing together a wide variety of high-level stakeholders, engaging and discussing the progress in disability inclusion: governments, multilateral agencies, the private sector, academia and civil society organizations, organizations of persons with disabilities, and foundations.
Mr. Odoom, a participant of the summit, told the Ghana News Agency that there was the need for a long-term technical support to create a level playing field.
“Partnerships must amplify, not replace, the voices of marginalized OPDs,” Mr. Odoom emphasized, calling for financial management, governance, and advocacy training to strengthen OPD autonomy.
He said there was the need for a shift from short-term, project-based funding to unrestricted, multi-year core support, guaranteeing OPD stability and long-term impact.
He also called on donors to hire persons with disabilities in their agencies and make sure to consult them to shape funding strategies and disability-inclusive policies.
