Accra: The Government will reenact the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), and introduce a Legislative Instrument to ensure its full enforcement, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, announced at the National Day for Persons with Disability (PWDs) in Accra. This move aims to make disability inclusion a legal obligation for all institutions.
According to Ghana News Agency, the event, organized by the Ghana Federation of Persons with Disability (GFD), revolved around the theme 'Advancing Inclusion through Education.' The program also honored individuals who have championed the rights of PWDs. Dr Apaak highlighted the Government's collaboration with the private sector to implement a five per cent employment quota for PWDs, urging private institutions to employ at least five per cent of their workforce from the PWD community.
He stressed the transformative power of education, noting the government's commitment to legislative and structural reforms to enhance inclusivity, as reaffirmed by President John Dramani Mahama in the 2025 State of the Nation Address. Moreover, Dr Apaak announced the introduction of a mathematics curriculum for visually impaired students at the Senior High School level to facilitate their participation in STEM education. Additionally, efforts are underway to develop a Ghanaian Sign Language curriculum to support hearing-impaired students.
Dr Apaak emphasized that education should be accessible to all and free from financial barriers, ensuring that no Ghanaian child, including those with disabilities, is hindered from pursuing their dreams. Regarding the proposed policy of free tertiary education for PWDs under the NDC administration, he mentioned a committee co-chaired by himself and the President of the GFD, tasked with developing a roadmap for its implementation.
Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, President of GFD, urged the Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy and the University of Ghana to ensure fully accessible learning environments, particularly for PWDs. He praised the Government's efforts to offer free tertiary education to PWDs and called on the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to align the disability law with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
Mrs Gertrude Oforiwaa Fefoame, a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of PWDs, highlighted the need to break the cycle of poverty that restricts access to inclusive education, particularly for women and girls with disabilities. She noted that globally, only one per cent of girls with disabilities are literate, with those in Sub-Saharan Africa facing significant barriers to education.
Mr Angel Lossada, the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, shared his personal experience with disability, underscoring the importance of inclusive support systems and technology. He emphasized that disability does not equate to inability, and there should be no distinction in the rights of PWDs and those without disabilities.
The GFD took the opportunity to honor founding members, long-serving staff, journalists, and child rights activists who have championed the rights of PWDs over the years.
