By Nelson Ayivor
President John Dramani Mahama has announced a series of sweeping reforms to strengthen Ghana’s disability rights framework, improve access to health and education, and promote inclusion across governance and employment sectors.
Speaking at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education Initiative for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Accra, he said the initiative marks a defining step in making inclusion “a lived reality,” for all Ghanaians, adding that the government will pursue complementary actions to make this vision achievable, starting with legal and institutional reforms.
“We will introduce a Persons with Disability Amendment Act and a legislative instrument, an ally, to modernize Ghana’s disability rights regime and ensure effective enforcement. So this new amendment act would amend the Persons with Disability Act that was passed in 2006 in order to bring it up to date with current realities.”
According to President Mahama, the amendment will strengthen accountability and establish clear sanctions for violations, including stricter penalties for those who fail to comply with accessibility standards.
He further announced that the government will establish Disability Health and Resource Centres in every district to provide specialized health assessments and build a credible national database for persons with disabilities. These centres will serve as focal points for early detection, rehabilitation, and long-term care coordination.
In addition, he pledged to “construct and upgrade rehabilitation centres in all regions to support physical recovery and vocational training.” This, he said, will help empower persons with disabilities to become economically independent and self-reliant.
The president also disclosed that every metropolitan, municipal, and district assembly will establish a disability desk to integrate disability issues into local development planning.
Employment and Economic Empowerment:
As part of the broader inclusion agenda, President Mahama announced the enforcement of a 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities across both public and private sectors.
He added that ministries will be required to report annually on compliance, while private entities meeting the quota will receive tax incentives as the enforcement of the Ghana Accessibility Standards (GAS) will become stricter under the amended law, noting that penalties for noncompliance will be significantly increased.
“Act 715 says the penalty for not complying is three months in prison or 600 cedis. Six hundred cedis is too small. So in the new Act, we are going to increase the penalty and maybe extend imprisonment from three months to six months”
He also announced that the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for persons with disabilities will be raised from 3% to 5% starting next year. Each district, in consultation with local branches of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled, will prepare annual budgets on how to utilize their share.
The President underscored the importance of gender inclusion in disability empowerment, revealing that “dedicated programmes will be launched for women with disabilities.” These programmes will focus on entrepreneurship grants and leadership training to increase women’s participation in economic and civic life.
He also revealed plans to introduce a system for distributing rechargeable motorized wheelchairs nationwide to improve mobility and independence among persons with disabilities.
President Mahama said all Ministers of State have been directed to review their obligations under the Disability Act and submit action plans for full compliance within the shortest possible time. He added that each ministry will provide an annual report detailing progress made in fulfilling these obligations.
“I call on the private sector, civil society, our development partners, universities and media to join hands in this noble mission. Let us transform our national attitudes from commiseration to partnership, from exclusion to empowerment, and from sympathy to solidarity.”
The launch ceremony showcased a standing ovation led by President Mahama after an inspiring address delivered by a person with disability, symbolizing the spirit of empowerment and resilience that the initiative seeks to promote.