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The National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation (MoCDTI) and Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP), joined the rest of the world to celebrate the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2025 at the NCA Tower in Accra under the theme “Assistive Technology: Empowering Lives, Advancing Inclusion”.
Delivering his remarks, the Minister of Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Hon. Samuel Nartey George stated that the theme “reminds us that accessible technology is not a privilege; it is a human rights obligation, affirmed in the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
The Minister acknowledged that uneven access across regions, limited maintenance services, and digital platforms that still fall short of universal design requirements continue to hinder full inclusion.
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He stated that the Ministry recognises its central role in bridging these gaps. Hon. Sam George promised two important things: first, to improve accessibility on all government digital platforms by following global standards like the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG); and second, to collaborate with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and telecom companies to create affordable data options, enhance customer service access and encourage investment in technologies that include everyone.
Million Coders Programme next year, 50,000 fully-funded training allocations have been reserved for persons with disabilities. “The Ministry will ensure regional equity in the distribution of these slots by working closely with the Ministry of Gender and the Federation to identify eligible persons across all regions who will be able to undertake the training,” he said.
Speaking at the event, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey (MP), Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, indicated that to ensure inclusivity, there must be sustained collaboration that actively dismantles barriers and creates an inclusive digital future where no one is left behind. “It’s a collective and shared responsibility; hand in hand, we will walk this path and ensure that inclusivity is a reality,” she said.
Act of the NCA, Act 769, enjoins the NCA, as part of its best practices, to perform its functions, having regard to the needs and interests of persons with disabilities, the elderly, low-income earners, and the vulnerable.
“It is in this light that at an inaugural stakeholder engagement a few weeks ago with mobile terminal device manufacturers and dealers to design a new minimum specification for terminal devices for Ghana by 2026, one of the key and prominent minimum specifications that every terminal device should have before being type approved and permitted entry into Ghana is an accessibility feature,” Mr. Suleman Salifu remarked.
A panel discussion on fostering disability-inclusive societies to advance social progress, moderated by renowned disability activist Madam Patience Atipoka Atuah, enriched the event with insightful perspectives.
Speaking on behalf of the GFD, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi expressed his gratitude to the President, His Excellency John Dramani Mahama, as well as to partners and donors for the continuous support extended to the GFD over the years in championing the cause of persons with disabilities in Ghana.
He further urged other institutions to follow this example and ensure that disability inclusion is integrated into every aspect of national development.
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