President John Dramani Mahama, in his State of the Nation Address on Thursday, February 27, 2025, outlined a series of initiatives aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana, focusing on employment, legal reforms, and expanding social support programmes.
A key promise was the enforcement of legislation mandating that public and private employers reserve 5% of their employment opportunities for PWDs.
“The government intends to ensure the implementation of the legislation that enjoins private and public employers to reserve 5% of employment for persons with disabilities,” he declared.
The President also signaled support for a private member’s bill championed by MP Francis Sosu to compel both private and state agencies to meet this 5% quota, addressing the high rate of unemployment among PWDs.
President Mahama further committed to strengthening the legal framework surrounding disability rights.
“We are committed to enhancing the legal framework surrounding disability rights by passing the Persons with Disability (Amendment) Bill,” he stated.
The government also plans to introduce a Legislative Instrument to bolster the existing Persons with Disability Act of 2006 (Act 715). This move addresses long-standing concerns that the current law has significant gaps compared to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and lacks effective enforcement mechanisms.
The previous government had initiated efforts to amend Act 715, but the bill failed to reach Parliament. President Mahama has now pledged to prioritise its passage.
Addressing educational access, President Mahama reiterated a commitment to free tertiary education for individuals with disabilities, ensuring equal opportunities for academic and professional advancement.
This initiative aligns with broader efforts to increase tertiary enrollment rates in Ghana, which currently fall short of national goals.
Finally, President Mahama announced plans to expand the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme under the “Big LEAP” initiative.
As the Ghana National Household Data Census nears completion in 2025, the government will reassess LEAP beneficiary households, facilitating the enrollment of new beneficiaries and ensuring greater support for vulnerable PWDs.
SOURCE: DisabilityNewsGH.com
