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0 The Government will reenact the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) and introduce a Legislative Instrument to ensure its full enforcement, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, the Deputy Minister of Education, said on Monday.
That would make disability inclusion a legal obligation for all institutions, he said at the commemoration of the National Day for Persons with Disability (PWDs) in Accra.
The programme, organised by the Ghana Federation of Persons with Disability (GFD), was on the theme: “Advancing Inclusion through Education.” It also saw the honouring of individuals who have championed the rights of PWDs over the years.
Dr Apaak said the Government was collaborating with the private sector to effectively implement the five per cent employment quota for PWDs, urging private institutions to commit to employing at least five per cent of their competent workforce from the PWD community.
He emphasised the power education held for social transformation, adding that the government, as reaffirmed by President John Mahama in the 2025 State of the Nation Address, was committed to legislative and structural reforms to promote inclusivity.
He announced the introduction of a mathematics curriculum tailored for visually impaired students at the Senior High School level to enable their participation in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education.
“We are also working to develop a Ghanaian Sign Language curriculum to support hearing-impaired students,” he said.
“Education must be accessible to all, and no financial barrier should prevent any Ghanaian child, including those with disabilities, from pursuing their dreams.”
On the proposed policy of free tertiary education for PWDs under the NDC administration, Dr Apaak said a committee, co-chaired by himself and the President of the GFD, had been established to develop a roadmap for its implementation.
“As MP for Builsa South, I will continue to remind Parliament of its obligations to PWDs. From kindergarten to PhD, we will work to ensure that PWDs enjoy their full rights,” he added.
Mr Joseph Atsu Homadzi, the President, GFD, urged the Centre for Disability Studies and Advocacy and the University of Ghana to make learning environments fully accessible to all, especially PWDs.
He commended the Government’s efforts to ensure free tertiary education for PWDs and called on the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection to expedite processes to align the disability law with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability.
Mrs Gertrude Oforiwaa Fefoame, Board Member of STAR-Ghana Foundation, and a member of the UN Committee on the Rights of PWDs, stressed the need to break the cycle of poverty that limits access to inclusive education, especially for women and girls with disability.
She said globally, only one per cent of girls with disability were literate, while in Sub-Saharan Africa, they were the most likely to miss school due to family perceptions, lack of accessible facilities, absence of protection from abuse, and inadequate sexual and reproductive health education.
“We must ensure safe and inclusive learning environments starting from kindergarten, with accessible facilities, quality teacher preparation, and teaching strategies tailored to all learners,” she said.
Mr Angel Lossada, the Spanish Ambassador to Ghana, shared his personal experience with disability, highlighting the importance of inclusive support systems and technology.
“Disability is not inability. There is no difference in the rights of PWDs and those without disabilities. We must all support the realisation of their rights,” he said.
The GFD used the occasion to honour founding members, long-serving staff, journalists, and child rights activists who have championed the rights of PWDs over the years.
