ANOPA Project has called on the government, the Ghana Education Service and other stakeholders to make disability inclusion a shared priority across school and community sport in Ghana.
Its Executive Director, Ernest Appiah, said genuine inclusion involved far more than providing children with disabilities with access to sports facilities or allowing them to take part in activities.
He said inclusion should guarantee dignity, equity and a sense of belonging, while also giving children the opportunity to influence the sports they play.
“Access is not participation, and participation is not necessarily inclusion,” Mr Appiah said.
He was speaking at a disability inclusion in sport workshop organised by ANOPA Project in partnership with the RYTHM Foundation on 28 October 2026.
The event brought together 30 teachers from the six circuits of the Cape Coast Metropolis. It was facilitated by Dr Kwadwo Owusu of the University of Cape Coast.
The workshop examined practical ways of adapting sporting activities, equipment and teaching approaches to meet the needs of pupils with hearing impairments, visual impairments and intellectual disabilities.
Participants were trained to help create sporting environments in which every child is valued and has a meaningful place in the game. The sessions focused on increasing participation and ensuring equal opportunities for children with disabilities.
Mr Appiah also said children with disabilities should have a voice in decisions about how sporting activities are planned and delivered.
He urged government agencies, schools and other stakeholders to treat inclusion as a collective responsibility, rather than an issue for individual organisations to address alone.
ANOPA Project expressed its appreciation to the Ghana Education Service for supporting the initiative.
The organisation specifically recognised the contribution of the Metropolitan Physical Education Coordinator, Mr Eric Otoo, and the Special Education Coordinator, Madam Salamatu Gausu.
ANOPA Project also thanked the RYTHM Foundation, Dr Owusu and the teachers who took part in the workshop for their commitment to creating inclusive sporting environments for all children.
