Speaking at the National Day of Persons with Disability on June 23, 2025, Deputy Minister of Education Hon. Clement Apaak reaffirmed the government’s commitment to advancing inclusion through education, highlighting key policy changes and ongoing efforts to support persons with disabilities in the educational system.
Addressing a gathering of representatives of Organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs), development partners, and other stakeholders, Hon. Apaak emphasised the importance of the occasion as a reminder of the collective responsibility to promote inclusivity and accessibility in all facets of life.
He noted that the theme of the year, “Advancing Inclusion through Education,” underscored the critical role education plays in empowering persons with disabilities.
Hon. Apaak referenced Section 18 of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), emphasising the need for educational institutions to provide conducive environments that cater to the diverse needs of students with disabilities.
The Deputy Minister acknowledged the tireless efforts of OPDs, educators, advocates, and families who have championed the right to inclusive education over the years, praising their resilience and dedication in shaping the national conversation on disability inclusion.
Hon. Apaak outlined several key government initiatives aimed at advancing inclusion through education, emphasising the government’s dedication to tangible, legislative, and structural changes that promote inclusivity for persons with disabilities.
According to Hon. Apaak, “These initiatives, reaffirmed in the State of the Nation Address (SONA) 2025, outline the following”:
• Disability Law Amendment & Full Legal Enforcement: The government will amend the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) and introduce a Legislative Instrument to make disability rights fully enforceable and actionable, ensuring that disability inclusion becomes a legal obligation for all institutions.
• 5% Employment Quota for Persons with Disabilities: Government and private sector employers must commit to hiring at least 5% of their workforce from the disability community, a significant step toward economic empowerment and ending exclusion in the workplace.
• Mathematics & Sign Language Curriculum for Visually/Hearing Impaired Students: The Honorable Minister has announced the development of a senior high mathematics curriculum for visually impaired students, aiming to improve their access to STEM education. Also, work is underway on a Ghanaian Sign Language curriculum to support deaf or hearing-impaired learners.
• Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities: To ensure that education is accessible to all, the government continues to provide free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, removing financial barriers to their educational dreams.
Mrs. Gertrude Oforiwa Fefoame, Global President of the International Council for Education of People with Visual Impairment (ICEVI) and Immediate Past Chair of the UN Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, delivered a keynote address focusing on the importance of “Advancing Inclusion through Education” for women and girls with disabilities.
Mrs. Fefoame emphasised that “Access to quality inclusive education is a basic human right supported by national and global legislations and policies,” highlighting the obligations of the State to ensure equal access for all.
She further noted that “significant challenges persist, and it is impossible to ignore the reality of thousands of girls and women with disabilities who face additional and intersecting barriers in accessing education,” citing factors such as societal stereotypes, lack of accessible infrastructure, and inadequate protection against violence and abuse.
Additional remarks from the president of the GFD, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi highlighted the significance of the annual National Day of Persons with Disabilities, stating that “Every year, 23rd June has been set aside to draw the attention of policy makers, duty bearers, service providers to the needs of issues affecting persons with disabilities in Ghana.”
Mr. Homadzi noted the progress made in areas such as “accessibility to education, health care, employment opportunities,” while emphasising that “a lot of them don’t come there, they cannot get access to education to this level.”
The GFD president also expressed gratitude for the government’s commitment to free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, stating that “This pledge is going to give persons with disabilities the opportunity to access tertiary education to enhance human factor development for this nation. So that persons with disabilities can also participate at the highest level decision making level of the national development.”
Mr.Homadzi further announced that a committee had been established with the Ministry of Education to determine the modalities for disbursing funds to support persons with disabilities at the tertiary level, encouraging all eligible students to apply.
Other speakers at the event also emphasised the need for targeted efforts to address the unique challenges faced by specific groups within the disability community.
The discussions and commitments made at the National Day of Persons with Disability reinforce ongoing efforts to create a more inclusive and equitable education system for all persons with disabilities in Ghana.
Beyond the formal addresses, a key highlight of the event was the inaugural Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) awards ceremony, showcasing the breadth of commitment within the disability community.
The GFD recognised 20 individuals for their contributions across a range of areas, from dedicated advocacy for disability rights to long-term service to the organisation and the foundational efforts of its founding members, among others.
The GFD Star Award, the event’s highest honour, was presented to Mr. Yaw Ofori Debra, a former president of the GFD and immediate past board chair of the National Council on Persons with Disability, celebrating his extraordinary and far-reaching impact on the federation and the disability movement in Ghana.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
