ACCRA, Oct 24 (The African Portal) – Ghana’s President John Dramani Mahama on Friday announced a seven-point national action plan aimed at improving inclusion and access for persons with disabilities, including free tertiary education and stronger enforcement of disability rights.
Speaking at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability initiative in Accra, Mahama said the plan seeks to make inclusion “a lived reality” and modernise Ghana’s disability policy framework.
The government will first introduce an amendment to the 2006 Persons with Disability Act, along with new regulations, to align the law with current conditions and strengthen enforcement.
Under the plan, the government will establish Disability Health and Resource Centres in every district to provide specialised assessments and build a national health database for persons with disabilities. Rehabilitation centres across all regions will also be constructed or upgraded to support recovery and vocational training.
Disability Desks will be set up in all metropolitan, municipal, and district assemblies, ministries, and Parliament to integrate disability issues into local and national development plans.
Mahama said the government would enforce a five percent employment quota for persons with disabilities in both public and private sectors. Private firms that meet the quota will qualify for tax incentives, while public sector institutions will be required to report annually on compliance.
Other measures include gender empowerment programmes for women with disabilities, infrastructure accessibility reforms, and stricter penalties for non-compliance with Ghana’s accessibility standards.
“Act 715 currently prescribes three months in prison or a 600 cedi fine for non-compliance,” Mahama said. “We will increase both the fines and the prison term.”
The president also announced plans to raise the allocation to persons with disabilities under the District Assemblies Common Fund from three to five percent, and to distribute rechargeable motorised wheelchairs nationwide.
Mahama directed all ministers to review their obligations under the Disability Act and submit compliance action plans, urging the private sector and civil society to “transform national attitudes from commiseration to partnership.”
