The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has welcomed the government’s commitment to accelerating inclusion, empowerment, and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana, as outlined in the 2025 State of the Nation Address (SONA). While praising the promises, the GFD urged swift execution and concrete action plans.
The GFD highlighted several key commitments:
• Passing the Persons with Disability (Amendment) Act: Strengthening disability rights and introducing a Legislative Instrument to ensure full enforcement.
• Enforcing the 5% Employment Quota: Implementing the 5% employment quota for PWDs in both public and private sectors.
• Free Tertiary Education: Removing financial barriers to higher education for PWDs through a no-fee policy.
• Standardising National Sign Language: Ensuring full educational access for hearing-impaired learners from Kindergarten to Senior High School.
• Vice President’s Empowerment Program: Building capacity and providing financial support for entrepreneurship and job creation for women and people with disabilities.
• Expanded Social Protection Initiatives: Enhancing access to quality education through Capitation Grants, Feeding Grants for Special Schools, and government-funded BECE registration.
“These commitments align with our long-standing advocacy for disability rights and inclusion, giving us a significant ray of hope that the future indeed holds great promise!” the GFD stated in a press release.
However, the organisation emphasized that these policy pronouncements must translate into tangible action. The GFD issued a call to action, urging the government to:
• Outline Clear Timelines and Budgets: Provide clear timelines, budgets, and accountability mechanisms for the execution of these policies.
• Engage Stakeholders Meaningfully: Ensure meaningful inclusion of PWDs, advocacy groups, and civil society in policy design, monitoring, and evaluation.
• Fast Track Legislation: The Ministry of Gender and Social Protection should immediately fast track the Persons with Disability (Amendment) Bill to Parliament, and Parliament should prioritise its passage.
• Enforce Employment Quota: Strengthen the private member’s bill, strongly consider adopting an employment equity policy, and commit to measurable recruitment, training, and workplace inclusion strategies.
• Ensure Transparent Free Education: Provide a clear implementation roadmap with accessible application processes and adequate financial backing for the free tertiary education policy.
• Invest Sustainably: Provide long-term funding for disability-focused initiatives to ensure sustainability beyond political cycles.
“Once again, we welcome this defining moment for disability rights in Ghana and assure the government of our open doors to work together to ensure that these promises lead to tangible transformation,” the GFD concluded.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com