Accra: The revised Persons with Disabilities bill, 2026, has been submitted to the cabinet for its review, Mr. Edwin Kweku Andoh, Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), announced on Thursday. He urged organizations of persons with disabilities and Members of Parliament to intensify advocacy for the bill's passage, noting the persistent efforts by disability groups over the past twenty years.
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Andoh made the announcement at a forum organized by the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD), supported by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), to engage the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability on the revised bill. He reaffirmed the NCPD's commitment to the cause and pledged continuous support to ensure the inclusion of persons with disabilities. Additionally, he mentioned that the African Disability Protocol had been laid before Parliament.
Dr. Edward Ampratwum, Head of the Transformative Governance Cluster at the UNDP, described the bill as an opportunity to address long-standing gaps in disability inclusion. He emphasized the need for Parliament to act swiftly, stating that no country can achieve reasonable development when a significant population is left behind.
Mr. Juventus Duorinaah, Executive Secretary of GNAD, emphasized that the revised bill offers Ghana a chance to align its laws with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), to which Ghana is a signatory. He called on the Parliamentary Caucus to champion its passage, highlighting its significance to the estimated 2.8 million persons with disabilities in the country.
Mr. Peter Anoma-Kodie, Executive Director of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisation (GFD), stressed the importance of involving persons with disabilities in shaping the final document before it becomes law. He reiterated the principle of "nothing about us without us" and urged the government to establish systems for effective implementation once the law is passed.
Ms. Beatrice Akua Mamhood, a disability activist, pointed out gaps in the current law, particularly around intersectionality. She noted that women with disabilities faced compounded stigma and exclusion, while caregivers of children with developmental and intellectual disabilities remained overlooked.
Ms. Abla Dzifa Gomashie, Minister of Tourism and a member of the Parliamentary Disability Caucus, renewed her commitment to serve the disability community. Other Members of Parliament present also pledged their support, assuring the disability community of their dedication to advancing inclusion and dignity.