In the Upper East Region of Ghana, AfriKids Ghana marked World Cerebral Palsy Day with an insightful visit alongside Women in Broadcasting (WiB) to the Child Rights Centre in Sirigu — a community once plagued by harmful beliefs that labeled children with disabilities as “spirit children.”
Thanks to AfriKids’ two decades of tireless child rights advocacy — which began with the “Spirit Child Phenomenon Project” and has since evolved into the “Children with Possibilities Project” — the region has witnessed a profound transformation in how children with disabilities are viewed and supported.
Led by Raymond Akolbire Ayinne, Communications and Advocacy Manager at AfriKids, the visit highlighted the project’s impact in reshaping community perceptions, and providing critical medical care, nutrition, physiotherapy, and education. The Sirigu Centre, one of four established in the region, serves a high-need area where access to healthcare and proper nutrition remains limited.
Ayinne reflected on the journey, noting:
“Communities have moved from killing innocent children to accepting that these are children with special health needs.”
As the project gradually phases out, AfriKids expresses confidence in the resilience built within the communities and the strong local structures now in place. The initiative will be officially handed over to the Ghana Health Service, traditional leaders, and community members to sustain its legacy of care and inclusion.
The Children with Possibilities Project has been instrumental in transforming attitudes toward disability — providing holistic support and empowering families to embrace children once rejected by superstition.
The visit by Women in Broadcasting underscored the vital role of media partnerships in amplifying awareness, promoting inclusion, and advocating for the rights of children with disabilities.
The day’s event was more than a celebration; it was a symbolic reminder of the region’s journey from darkness to light — where children once condemned by fear are now seen as individuals with inherent worth and limitless possibilities.
By: Fauzia Abitor Haruna
