Ghana has celebrated the International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) 2025 with a strong emphasis on technology as a tool for empowerment.
The event, held under the theme “Assistive Technology: Empowering Lives, Advancing Inclusion,” underscored the importance of accessible technology in enhancing the quality of life for persons with disabilities.
Speaking at the event on Wednesday, in Accra, the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology, and Innovations, Mr Samuel Nartey George, emphasised that the theme “reminds us that accessible technology is not a privilege; it is a human rights obligation, as affirmed in the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).’’
Mr George announced that 50,000 fully-funded training slots will be reserved for persons with disabilities under the upcoming One Million Coders Programme set for 2026.
“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 stated.
Additionally, he pledged to enhance accessibility across all government digital platforms by adopting global standards such as the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG).
He revealed plans to collaborate with the National Communications Authority (NCA) and telecom companies to provide affordable data packages, improve customer service access, and encourage investment in inclusive technologies that cater for everyone.
The Minister for Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, reinforced the call for sustained collaboration, noting that true inclusivity requires dismantling barriers and building a 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 remarked.
The Acting Deputy Director General of the NCA outlined the agency’s regulatory role in advancing accessibility and announced that by 2026, all mobile terminal devices entering Ghana must adhere to new minimum specifications that include accessibility features before being type-approved.
This requirement, he noted, emerged from recent stakeholder engagements with manufacturers and dealers, showcasing the Authority’s commitment to protecting the interests of persons with disabilities, the elderly, low-income earners, and other vulnerable groups.
The event was organised by the NCA and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), in collaboration with the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovation (MoCDTI) and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP).
Margaret Adjeley Sowah, ISD
