President John Dramani Mahama has announced a comprehensive set of reforms aimed at modernising Ghana’s disability rights framework and promoting greater inclusion for persons with disabilities.

Speaking at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities initiative in Accra, the President unveiled plans for a new Persons with Disability Act and accompanying Legislative Instrument to update and strengthen the country’s legal regime on disability rights.

“We will introduce a Persons with Disability Act and a Legislative Instrument to modernise Ghana’s disability rights regime and ensure effective enforcement,” President Mahama said.

“This new amendment act will amend the Persons with Disability Act that was passed in 2006 in order to bring it up to date with current realities.”

The proposed legislation, he noted, will be complemented by several institutional and policy interventions designed to enhance healthcare, rehabilitation, and employment opportunities for persons with disabilities.

President Mahama announced the establishment of district health and resource centres across the country to provide specialised health assessments and to build a credible national health database for persons with disabilities to inform evidence-based decision-making.

In addition, the government will construct and upgrade rehabilitation centres in all regions to support physical recovery and provide vocational training for persons with disabilities.

“Every District Assembly and Municipal Assembly will establish a Disability Desk,” he added.

“These Disability Desks will integrate disability issues into the Assemblies’ development planning.”

To promote inclusive employment, President Mahama pledged to enforce a minimum 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities across both the public and private sectors.

“Private sector organisations that meet the quota will be given tax incentives,” he explained. “And every public sector institution, through their respective ministers, will have to report annually that they have met the 5% quota.”

He reaffirmed that inclusion and accessibility are central to the government’s national development agenda.