Data from the Ghana Statistical Service indicate that more than two million Ghanaians live with some form of disability. These citizens are not marginal figures; they are parents, workers, teachers, traders and students whose participation is essential to national development.
Like all Ghanaians, they depend on transportation to access healthcare, education, employment and other public services. Yet transportation remains one of the most significant and least addressed barriers to their inclusion.
For many persons with disabilities (PWDs), owning a private vehicle is not an option due to the high cost of purchase and maintenance. As a result, they rely almost entirely on public transport. Unfortunately, Ghana’s public transport system is largely inaccessible to persons with mobility, hearing or visual impairments.
This situation persists despite the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which requires transport operators to make provisions for PWDs, including reserved seating and accessible services. In practice, compliance is weak.
It is common to find persons with disabilities waiting for long hours at lorry stations because passengers refuse to vacate seats reserved for them. In many stations, there are no designated waiting areas or complaint mechanisms to address such violations.
Persons with hearing impairments face their own challenges. Communication with drivers and conductors is often difficult, and little effort is made to identify or accommodate them before vehicles begin their journeys.
These daily obstacles undermine the dignity and independence of persons with disabilities.
Affordability further compounds the problem. Transportation often costs more for persons with disabilities than for others. Many must travel with an assistant, effectively doubling their transport expenses. Some are charged additional fees for wheelchairs or crutches, while users of electric wheelchairs are frequently compelled to rely on ride-hailing services because their devices cannot fit into most public vehicles. This makes regular travel financially unsustainable for many.
Such realities are inconsistent with Article 29 of the 1992 Constitution, which guarantees the rights and dignity of persons with disabilities and obliges the state to ensure their full integration into society. Yet, there are no structured transport subsidies, vehicle ownership support schemes, or payment plans to ease this burden.
Discrimination remains a major concern. Drivers and conductors often refuse to carry persons with disabilities, while some passengers object to sitting near them. These actions violate Article 17 of the Constitution, which prohibits discrimination, as well as the provisions of Act 715. The consequences are severe, including missed employment opportunities, delayed access to healthcare, and emotional distress.
Ghana has the legal framework to address these challenges. What is required now is stronger enforcement and sustained public education. Institutions such as the National Commission for Civic Education (NCCE), the Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ), transport unions and disability organisations must collaborate to promote compliance and change public attitudes.
Inclusive transportation is not a favour but a constitutional responsibility. Addressing these challenges is essential if Ghana is to uphold its commitment to equality and ensure that no citizen is left behind.
By Castro Kofi Appiah
Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled, Ga West District
+233247139677
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
