With over ten percent of Ghanaians living with disabilities but limited access to employment, Telecel Ghana is taking bold steps to close one of the nation’s greatest inclusion gaps: employment and empowerment for persons with disabilities.
On Thursday, 28th August 2025, the company hosted a fireside chat on diversity and inclusion, themed “Challenged to Lift the Challenged: Inclusion and Allyship in Action.” The event aimed to spark dialogue, deepen awareness, and inspire practical action on disability inclusion in the workplace, brought employees together to foster empathy and learn tangible ways to create a supportive environment for colleagues living with disabilities.
Guest speakers Jennifer Mensah-Bonzie, Founder of the Vigilo Mobility Foundation and Project Manager at JP Morgan Chase, and Dorcas Mensah, Diversity & Inclusion Advisor at the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, delivered powerful messages that challenged perceptions while inspiring allyship.
Jennifer urged employees to embrace genuine empathy in their interactions:
“Lead with empathy, not sympathy. Ask, “How can I help?” rather than “Can I help?” True allyship means seeing people for their abilities, not their limitations.”
Diagnosed with polio at age three, Jennifer shared how allyship shaped her journey and inspired the creation of the Vigilo Mobility Foundation, which provides mobility aids, medical care, and empowerment initiatives across Ghana. Her advocacy came to life in a moving moment when she donated mobility accessories and sponsored occupational therapy sessions to two Telecel employees living with disability.
Reflecting on the gesture, Jacob, one of the recipients said, “To receive three different walking aids, ones I had never even seen before, was truly overwhelming. I am happy and grateful.” He added that Telecel’s culture of inclusion extends well beyond such moments: “From allocating me a special parking space to colleagues assisting me when needed, I feel supported every day.”
Dorcas complemented the session with practical guidance on inclusive language and workplace accessibility, stressing the importance of using terms like “persons with disabilities” and ensuring disability-friendly spaces.
Telecel Ghana’s commitment to inclusion goes beyond its workforce. The organization’s Super Care initiative, now in its ninth year, continues to support Ghana’s Deaf community through sign language–trained agents, video-call services on the Telecel Play app, and tailored packages that deliver both connectivity and dignity. Together with the Foundation’s STEM and other empowerment initiatives, these efforts demonstrate that inclusion at Telecel is not just policy, but a lived value that touches both employees and customers.
Rachael Appenteng, Human Resources Director at Telecel Ghana, emphasized the organization’s values, “Inclusion is more than a checkbox, it is culture in action. From our Super Care programme to the strides of our STEM and DEI teams, we are making sure inclusion is real, every day, and for everyone.”
By combining leadership, advocacy, and practical action, Telecel Ghana is setting the pace for disability inclusion in corporate Ghana. The fireside chat underscored a simple truth: inclusion thrives when empathy moves from words to action.
