U.S. Student Commends HRRG Executive Director’s Disability Advocacy in Ghana

A U.S.-based high school student has publicly acknowledged the impact of disability rights advocacy efforts led by Dr. Joseph Kobla Wemakor, Executive Director of Human Rights Reporters Ghana (HRRG), following a 30-minute research interview focused on disability inclusion in Ghana.

The interview was conducted virtually on Saturday, February 14, 2026, at exactly 6:00pm (GMT).

Adelaide Brown, a Class of 2028 student at All Saints’ Episcopal School in Fort Worth, engaged Dr. Wemakor as part of her History project titled “Borders and Boundaries.” Rather than focusing on physical borders between nations, Brown chose to explore disability as a social boundary, examining how stigma and exclusion affect persons with disabilities in Ghana.

During the interview, Brown revealed that her decision to contact Dr. Wemakor followed extensive online research into disability rights issues in Ghana.

“I was researching a lot of articles and stuff, and I saw your name come up,” she said. “I decided to look further into it and figure out your email.”

In a candid moment during the discussion, Dr. Wemakor asked whether she believed he was making meaningful progress in disability advocacy within Ghana.

“Yes, I think you are,” Brown responded.

Her remarks placed the HRRG Executive Director in the spotlight, serving as independent international recognition of his visibility and contributions to disability rights advocacy and investigative reporting.

International Academic Recognition

Brown explained that her interest in Ghana was sparked by research into prayer camps and the broader treatment of persons with disabilities — issues that have received sustained attention from HRRG within a rights-based framework.

That a high school student in the United States independently identified and reached out to Dr. Wemakor underscores the growing global reach of HRRG’s work and Ghana’s disability rights discourse.

Advocacy Beyond Borders

Throughout the February 14 engagement, Dr. Wemakor addressed systemic barriers confronting persons with disabilities in Ghana, including:

• Persistent stigma rooted in cultural misconceptions
• Inaccessibility of public infrastructure
• Gaps in inclusive education
• Employment discrimination
• Weak enforcement of disability protection laws

He emphasized that while Ghana has enacted disability legislation and ratified international human rights instruments, implementation gaps remain significant.

Responsibility Beyond Recognition

While Brown’s commendation reflects growing international awareness of HRRG’s work, Dr. Wemakor noted that recognition must reinforce responsibility.

Disability rights advocacy in Ghana remains ongoing, requiring sustained accountability, institutional reforms, and attitudinal change.

The cross-border academic exchange highlights how social boundaries can transcend geography — and how advocacy efforts in Ghana are resonating with a new generation of globally conscious youth.

As international students increasingly engage with Ghana’s human rights landscape, HRRG’s leadership finds itself not only recognized beyond borders, but challenged to deepen its commitment to advancing dignity, equality, and justice for persons with disabilities.

Watch the video on the interview below: