The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFDO) is urging the government to move quickly on the long-awaited revised disability Bill, describing it as essential for protecting the rights and dignity of more than two million Ghanaians with disabilities.
Addressing a press conference in Accra, Vice-President of the Federation, Martha Coffie, said the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection must fast-track all remaining processes and present the revised Bill to Parliament without delay.
She added that once the Bill reaches the House, legislators should “not hesitate” to pass it.
“The revised Bill will modernise our legal framework, clarify institutional responsibilities and improve access to education, employment, health care, transport and justice for persons with disabilities,” she said on behalf of National President, Joseph Atsu Homadzi.
According to the GFDO, the current Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) no longer aligns with global disability rights principles or Ghana’s obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which the country ratified in 2012.
Martha Coffie said the long delay in updating the law has created “persistent accessibility and participation barriers” and weakened compliance across public and private institutions.
These gaps, she noted, undermine national progress on inclusive education, employment opportunities, transport, justice, digital inclusion and access to social protection.
“With government’s renewed commitments at the global and national levels, now is the moment to translate words into action,” she added.
The Federation pointed to recent pledges made at the 2025 Global Disability Summit and the national launch of the Free Tertiary Education initiative, where the government reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers for persons with disabilities.
However, Martha Coffie said legislative action has been slow, leaving millions without a modern legal framework that reflects their aspirations.
GFDO has also called on the National Council on Persons with Disabilities to intensify stakeholder engagement, public awareness and technical coordination ahead of the Bill’s passage to ensure strong institutional readiness once it becomes law.
The Federation insists the revised disability law is crucial for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and ensuring equal opportunity for all Ghanaians.
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