To: The President of the Republic of Ghana; Parliament of Ghana; Minister for Education; Minister for Works & Housing; Minister for Local Government and Rural Development; Ghana Education Service (GES); National Council for Tertiary Education; Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs).

From: The Challenged Foundation and citizens of Ghana

 
Why this matters
We commend His Excellency the President for the bold and historic step of launching free tertiary education for persons with disabilities. This policy represents a powerful commitment to equity, empowerment, and national development.

However, free education cannot be enjoyed if learners cannot physically access schools, universities, government buildings, buses, or public services.

Ghana promised inclusion in law and policy, yet too many buildings and public facilities still shut people with disabilities out.

The Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) gave 10 years for public buildings to become accessible, the deadline passed in 2016, yet many remain inaccessible.
Ghana’s national Inclusive Education Policy commits to equality across basic and secondary schools, but physical access continues to be a barrier.
Numerous studies in Ghana have documented serious accessibility gaps in public buildings and on university campuses,  including lack of ramps, lifts, accessible toilets, and signage.
While free tertiary education for PWDs is a welcome milestone, the promise is incomplete if campuses, district offices, courts, buses, and services remain inaccessible.
LI 2465 (2022) has strengthened accessibility requirements under building regulations, now we need visible, time-bound implementation.
Additionally, in Ghana:

There is insufficient designated parking for persons with disabilities.
The few reserved parking spaces that exist are often occupied by non-PWDs, with little enforcement.
We are not asking for special privilege, we are asking for equal access.

 
Our demands
1. Nationwide Accessibility Audit (launch within 90 days)
Publicly assess all schools, universities, MMDA buildings, courts, and public service points.

2. Time-Bound Retrofit Plan (18–24 months)
Install ramps, handrails, lifts/platform lifts, accessible toilets, tactile surfaces, wayfinding systems, and wide doorways,  with public timelines.

3. Accessibility Fund
Create a dedicated funding window under GETFund/MMDAs for accessibility upgrades.

4. Building & Accreditation Enforcement
No approval or renewal for public buildings or school blocks unless they comply with Act 715 & LI 2465.

5. MMDA Accessibility Desks
Trained officers to handle inspections, complaints, and approvals.

6. Accessible Transport
At least one wheelchair-accessible bus per major route and accessible taxi support; safe paths and curb ramps near schools.

7. Reasonable Accommodation in Education
Budgeted assistive technology, note-taking, sign language interpretation, and accessible learning materials.

8. Complaint & Redress Mechanism (within 120 days)
A hotline and online portal with timelines for action and penalties for non-compliance.

9. Parking Enforcement for PWDs
Increase designated parking spaces and enforce penalties for misuse by non-PWD drivers.

10. Transparent Public Monitoring
Quarterly reports to Parliament and the public.

 
What success looks like
A child in a wheelchair enters school without being carried.
A visually impaired student navigates campus safely with tactile guidance.
A parent no longer lifts a child up flights of stairs to meet a headteacher.
A citizen with disability can enter a court or district office independently.
Reserved disability parking is available  and respected.
 
We call for urgent action.
The law already guarantees accessibility. The policy vision is clear. The Presidential commitment to free education is inspiring.

Now, we must ensure the doors literally are open.

We, the undersigned, call for full implementation, timelines, and accountability so that Ghana’s promise of education and opportunity truly includes everyone.

Signed,
The Challenged Foundation, Citizens and allies of inclusion

Organized by: The Challenged Foundation  
📞 +233 59 770 4923  
📧 info@challengedfoundationgh.org / thechallenged.foundationgh@gmail.com