On 14 March 2026, the third edition of the C.H.I.L. Awards unfolded at the Labadi Beach Hotel in Accra.
It was an evening of warmth, elegance and purpose. Golden lights bathed the room, strings from the live band floated through the air and a sea of refined African couture created an atmosphere that was both prestigious and deeply intimate.
And at the heart of this setting was a mission to spotlight the leadership, resilience and innovation of PWDs in Entrepreneurship, Disability Sports and Education.
For decades, disability in Ghana has often been framed through the lens of limitation, but the 2026 C.H.I.L. Awards confronted and dismantled that narrative.
Story after story revealed not deficit, but brilliance; not sympathy, but strength; not barriers, but triumph.
The emotional crest of the evening arrived with the official address from Bishop Dr. Charles Cofie Hackman.
His words steady, grateful and resolute reminded the audience why H4P exists and why the work must continue.
“The organization has a lot to be grateful for… Tonight we celebrate resilience; tonight is a testament of purpose.”
He described H4P’s beginnings as an act of courage and conviction.
“H4P was born out of conviction that Persons with Disability deserve opportunities, not sympathy.”
That conviction has anchored the organization through fifteen years of advocacy, innovation and community engagement often without external funding or institutional guarantees.
Today, H4P stands as a pillar of empowerment with impact across media advocacy (The Helping Hand TV Show), community health, education, policy engagement and now, an honouring platform that has become a continental reference point.
Bishop Hackman saluted this year’s honourees, reaffirming H4P’s long-standing mandate to expand access, shift perceptions and celebrate ability.
After an exceptionally rigorous selection process featuring nominations submitted from every region of the country this year’s edition reached an impressive new milestone for Ghana’s disability community.
For the first time, their achievements and success stories are receiving the national and international visibility they truly deserve.
From the many outstanding nominations received, the following individuals emerged as distinguished winners.
The 2026 C.H.I.L Awards honoured three outstanding leaders within Ghana’s disability community: Prof. Augustina Naami, an Associate Professor at the University of Ghana, celebrated for over fourteen years of pioneering teaching, research and advocacy in disability inclusion, mental health and social policy; Victoria Teni Luatemah, CEO of VICLUATEMAH Enterprise in Sefwi Akontombra, recognised for building a resilient, community-driven social enterprise spanning agribusiness, food processing, detergents, beekeeping, beadwork, piggery and sustainable waste solutions; and Zinabu Issah, a national para-thrower in the F57 category, honoured for her exceptional athletic achievements, including a 29.25m gold-medal discus throw at the 2025 WPA Marrakech Grand Prix, which has redefined excellence in Ghanaian para-sports.
Each awardee received a C.H.I.L Plaque, Medal of Honour, Certificate, a cash prize, a feature interview on The Helping Hand TV Show and one year of free publicity to support their next major project ensuring the impact continues well beyond the ceremony.
The Special Guest of Honour was Hon. Isaac Maigua Mwaura, CBS, Government Spokesperson of the Republic of Kenya an internationally respected voice in disability inclusion and human rights.
His decades-long work from serving as Kenya’s first MP and Senator with albinism to founding the Albinism Society of Kenya embodies the leadership and impact the C.H.I.L. Awards seek to highlight.
He was honoured with the C.H.I.L. Lifetime Honorary Award for his contributions to disability advocacy in Kenya and across Africa.
The ceremony featured live performances from Minister Elorm, Douglas Makafui and the Visionary Rhythms Band, weaving a soulful musical backdrop through the night.
Testimonial videos from past honourees including Prof. Wisdom Mprah, Raphael Botsyo Nkegbe, Dr. Seidu Daanaa, Judith Cato Addison and Sister Elizabeth drew applause and emotional reactions as they reflected on what the platform had meant to their work and visibility.
Fifteen years after beginning its national mission, the H4P Organization has become one of Ghana’s most compelling examples of how platforms can influence policy, shift public perception and transform lives.
Through The Helping Hand TV Show Ghana’s longest‑running disability‑focused broadcast alongside community projects, Ability Praise Concerts, Celebration of Love projects and its celebrated prestigious C.H.I.L. Awards, the H4P Organization has woven advocacy, service and recognition into a single, powerful narrative: “Bringing Dignity to Disability.”
The prestigious Christina Hackman Impact Leadership (C.H.I.L) Awards are themselves a memorial named after the late Mrs. Christina Anansiwa Hackman, mother of H4P CEO Bishop Charles Cofie Hackman.
Her lifelong service inspired the organization’s flagship initiatives, from inclusive health outreach to media advocacy and celebratory platforms that honour the contributions of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs).
Source:3News