From: Evans Sewornu
The launch of the Dial4Inclusion Project at the AblekumaCentral Municipal Assembly yesterday signalled a shift in how local government accountability can work for Persons with Disabilities, moving participation beyond town hall meetings and paperwork into everyday, accessible digital engagement.
Led by the Zomujo Foundation and supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives through the Canada High Commission, the project introduces a toll free phone line and USSD platform that allow Persons with Disabilities to report challenges, request services, and give feedback directly to their Municipal Assemblies. The approach is designed to remove the physical, financial, and social barriers that have historically limited the ability of PWDs to engage with public institutions.
What sets Dial4Inclusion apart is not only how citizens communicate with government, but how government responds.
Each participating municipality operates a real time Assembly Dashboard that logs and tracks every report submitted through the system. Issues are categorized, monitored, and assigned for action, creating a clear trail of responsibility within the Assembly.
For local officials, this introduces a new level of transparency. For citizens with disabilities, it provides something often missing from governance processes: visibility and follow up.
Although the public launch took place in Ablekuma Central, the initiative is being rolled out simultaneously in the Obuasi Municipal Assembly and the Upper Denkyira East Municipal Assembly. This parallel deployment is intended to demonstrate that inclusive governance systems can function effectively across different local contexts, rather than remaining as isolated pilot projects.
Addressing participants at the event, Dr Teata Duut, Executive Director of the Zomujo Foundation, explained that technology alone cannot deliver inclusion unless it is paired with human support and institutional commitment.
He noted that each district is supported by ten trained Civic Navigators who help Persons with Disabilities use the system, understand their rights, and follow up on reported issues. At least 60 percent of these navigators are women, a deliberate choice to ensure that the experiences of women with disabilities are not overlooked.
The launch attracted strong political and administrative support, reflecting growing recognition of disability inclusion as a governance priority. Hon Frank Nkansah, Municipal Chief Executive for Ablekuma Central, and Hon Abdul Latif-Dan, Member of Parliament for Ablekuma Central, both attended the event, alongside municipal officials and development partners. Their presence underscored a shared commitment to ensuring that the concerns raised through the platform translate into concrete action.
Mr Edward Sarpong, Coordinator for the CFLI project, described Dial4Inclusion as an example of how small scale, well targeted innovations can strengthen democratic participation at the local level. He noted that the project aligns with broader international efforts to promote the rights of Persons with Disabilities by embedding inclusion directly into public service systems.
In a moment that grounded the digital discussions in everyday realities, the Municipal Assembly used the occasion to distribute essential items and equipment to Persons with Disabilities in the community. The gesture reinforced the link between reporting needs through the system and responding to them through public action.
As Dial4Inclusion takes root in Ablekuma Central and expands across Obuasi and Upper Denkyira East, it offers a glimpse of a governance model where accessibility, accountability, and data driven decision making work together.
For many observers at the launch, the project represents more than a new platform. It marks a practical step toward ensuring that no citizen is excluded from local governance simply because of disability.
