The Ministry of Education has officially doubled its national budgetary allocation for assistive devices and technologies for special needs learners, raising the fund from GH₵20 million to GH₵40 million.
Under the initiative, the Minister for Education has invited the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) and key disability stakeholders to work directly alongside the Ministry’s technical team to ensure that the procured devices are tailored and “fit for purpose” for learners with special needs.
The details were confirmed by the Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability and Deputy Minister for Education, Hon. Dr Clement Apaak.
Describing the funding increase as “greater news for the disability movement,“ Dr. Apaak explained that engaging umbrella disability bodies in an advisory role ensures that public funds are spent on relevant, high-quality, and practical equipment that directly enhances learning.
With the assistive device allocation doubled to GH₵40 million, the government’s total immediate capital commitment to special education has risen to GH₵64 million.
This includes a previously announced GH₵24 million infrastructure intervention earmarked to rehabilitate and modernise three major special education institutions into technology-driven centres of excellence:
• Akropong School for the Blind: GH₵8 million
• Savelugu School for the Deaf: GH₵8 million
• Wa Special School (Blind/Deaf): GH₵8 million
Dr Apaak highlighted the Ministry’s strong track record of involving disability advocates, pointing out that the Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disability (NCPD) previously served on implementation committees chaired by Dr Apaak on free tertiary education and special education reforms.
Background
The educational funding updates emerged following sector briefings during a two-day strategic workshop in Accra organised by the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability.
The workshop brought together key sector ministries, state agencies, and civil society leaders to review policy interventions aimed at advancing inclusive education and disability rights across Ghana.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
