The fully funded allocation is designed to address the poor participation of PWDs during the programme’s pilot phase, where only nine out of 859 trainees were persons with disabilities. The new slots aim to ensure meaningful inclusion and broaden access for PWDs nationwide.
Disclosing this at the commemoration of the 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) in Accra on Wednesday, Mr. Samuel Nartey George, Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, said the allocation would be distributed across all 16 regions to promote fairness and regional balance.
He noted that the Ministry was working collaboratively with the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) to properly identify eligible beneficiaries.
“This allocation is to ensure that PWDs are not left behind in Ghana’s digital transformation agenda,” he stressed.
This year’s IDPD commemoration was jointly organised by the National Communications Authority (NCA) and the Ghana Federation of Disabilities (GFD).
Mr. George explained that the delayed rollout of the programme was the result of efforts to secure internationally recognised certifications from technology giants such as Google, Microsoft, and Cisco, adding that full implementation would begin early next year.
“These globally accepted certificates will allow PWDs and other beneficiaries to qualify for remote work with international companies, many of which do not accept local certificates,” he said.
The Minister noted Ghana’s progress in inclusive education, ICT accessibility standards, digital public services and innovation support. However, he raised concerns about persistent gaps, especially regarding the affordability and accessibility of digital tools for PWDs.
To address these issues, he announced plans to enforce accessibility standards across all government digital platforms in line with global best practices. He said the Ministry would work with the NCA and telecommunication companies to promote accessible and affordable communications, including concessional data packages and inclusive customer service channels.
He commended the NCA for initiating discussions with device manufacturers to ensure that all mobile devices imported into Ghana meet minimum accessibility requirements by 2026.
In her remarks, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, reaffirmed government’s commitment to advancing disability-inclusive policies, expanding access to assistive technologies and strengthening social protection systems.
She announced that the Persons with Disability Act, 2006, had been reviewed and was undergoing final stakeholder consultations ahead of submission to Cabinet.
Dr. Lartey further stated that the Ghana Digital Acceleration Project had procured digital devices—including desktops, laptops, accessible software and braille tools—for seven special schools to support digital learning for students with disabilities.
Mr. Suleman Salifu, Deputy Director of Technical Operations at the NCA, highlighted ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility, including the development of an Accessibility-Based Applications Project (ABAP) aimed at upgrading NCA digital platforms to cater to users with visual, auditory and motor impairments.
He emphasised that the NCA remained committed to prioritising the needs of PWDs and other vulnerable populations, in line with its mandate under Act 769.
President of the GFD, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi, commended government for the dedicated training allocation and renewed commitment to digital accessibility.
“This commitment marks a significant step toward breaking digital barriers for persons with disabilities. We look forward to effective implementation that delivers real opportunities,” he said.
GHBUSS
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