Celebrating Ability: C.H.I.L Awards honour outstanding PWDs in Ghana

For many Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) gathered for the third prestigious Christina Hackman Impact Leadership (C.H.I.L) Awards on 14 March 2026, this wasn’t just another gala. It was a homecoming. A validation. A night where, for once, they were not the afterthought. They were the spotlight.

Ghana’s exclusive awards platform is dedicated to honouring PWDs, the C.H.I.L Awards stand in a class of their own, affirming excellence across Education, Entrepreneurship, Disability Sports and more.

The platform also invites the nation to see disability through the lens of dignity and possibility.

On the red carpet, guiding canes tapped softly against the glossy floor, wheelchairs rolled over toned carpets, and shimmering outfits reflected the warm ballroom lights. There were no stares of pity here—only admiration.
Inside the hall—adorned with soft lights, warm colours and the hum of heartfelt anticipation—many described it as the first time they felt truly celebrated without conditions. The setting matched the moment; the Labadi Beach Hotel’s renowned events spaces and five‑star service gave the ceremony the grand canvas it deserved.

When Bishop Dr. Charles Cofie Hackman, CEO of the H4P Organization’s official statement was played, the room settled into a reverent hush as his reflections threaded the night together—past, present and promise:

“The organization has a lot to be grateful for… Tonight we celebrate resilience; tonight is a testament of purpose. Tonight is a defining moment in a 15‑year journey of advocacy, sacrifice, innovation and transformational impact.”

He traced the origin story not to a grant or a guarantee, but to conviction:

“Fifteen years ago, the H4P Organization was born out of conviction—a conviction that Persons with Disability deserve opportunities, not sympathy; inclusion, not isolation; empowerment, not criticism.”

“From humble beginnings without external funding or institutional guarantees, H4P is living proof that when purpose is sustained by hard and wise work, it can move mountains and make the impossible possible.”

Today, he said, H4P has evolved into a formidable advocacy and empowerment institution—its media, community health, education and celebration platforms reinforcing one another to shift public perception and expand access.

The C.H.I.L Awards is named after Mrs. Christina Anansiwa Hackman, late mother of H4P CEO Bishop Dr. Charles Cofie Hackman, whose life of service inspired H4P’s flagship projects—from The Helping Hand TV Show to inclusive community health, advocacy and celebratory platforms that “bring dignity to disability.”

The presence of dignitaries and allies underscored the event’s widening influence. The Special Guest for the night was Isaac Maigua Mwaura, CBS, Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Kenya and a widely recognised disability‑inclusion advocate, added a powerful continental resonance to the evening’s theme of visibility and voice.

The Special Guest of Honour, was also honoured with the C.H.I.L Lifetime Honorary Award for his service to disability advocacy in Kenya and Africa.

Having received nominations from across the 16 regions in Ghana, winners from this year’s highly contested events were;

Prof. Augustina Naami – Education Award
When Prof. Augustina Naami’s profile illuminated the screens, the ballroom fell silent. With more than fourteen years of teaching, research and leadership at the University of Ghana, her work on disability, mental health and social policy has changed how classrooms and communities think about inclusion. As a woman with a disability herself, her triumph felt personal, communal, symbolic. She was the award winner for the Education Category.

Victoria Teni Luatemah — Entrepreneurship Award
From Sefwi Akontombra in the Western North Region, Victoria Teni Luatemah’s enterprise story—rooted in agribusiness, value‑addition and sustainable craft—read like a love letter to resilience. She carried the heartbeat of rural Ghana to the capital’s grandest stage, reminding the room that disability does not shrink dreams; it sharpens them.

Zinabu Issah — Disability Sports Award
When Zinabu Issah’s 29.25 m national‑record discus throw from the 2025 WPA Marrakech Grand Prix played back on the big screen, the room erupted. It wasn’t only about the medal; it was the message: Ghana’s PWDs are world‑class. Her progression has become a symbol of what focused support and relentless discipline can achieve.

Awardees received a C.H.I.L Plaque, Certificate, Medal of Honour, a cash prize, an exclusive interview with Bishop Hackman, and a year of free publicity for their projects.

Between awards, soul‑stirring sets by Minister Elorm, Douglas Makafui and the Visionary Rhythms Band flowed like affirmations. Video tributes from past C.H.I.L honourees and advocates—names loved across the community—felt like blessings passed down, drawing a through‑line from previous editions to this year’s milestone.

The emotion in the room was palpable: guests laughed, share tears of joy, hugged and held hands. They didn’t just watch an awards show—they participated in a collective healing.

For most PWDs in Ghana, society often sees their challenges before their contributions. Tonight reversed that lens.

Over the past 15 years, the H4P Organization has become a movement—media that educates, community projects that heal, a stage that honours ability. We are here to say, with evidence and with love, that inclusion is not charity—it is justice.

For one unforgettable night at Labadi Beach Hotel, Ghana saw its disability community clearly—and applauded without hesitation.

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