President John Dramani Mahama has announced an increase in the allocation of disability funds for Persons Living with Disabilities (PWDs) under the District Assemblies Common Fund, from three per cent to five per cent, effective 2026.
Speaking during the launch of the Free Tertiary Education Programme for Persons with Disabilities, President Mahama disclosed that a Disability Desk will be established at each Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assembly (MMDA). This desk will collaborate with the local branches of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled to prepare an annual budget outlining how PWDs intend to utilise the five per cent allocation.
The initiative aims to provide greater support to meet the needs of persons with disabilities (PWDs).
“Next year, in the District Assemblies Common Fund formula, we intend to increase the allocation to persons with disability from 3% to 5%. And the disability desk in every District Assembly will, in consultation with the local branch of the Ghana Federation of the Disabled will prepare a budget each year for how they intend to spend the 5% that has been allocated to them,” he said.
He further assured that a minimum of five per cent employment quota for PWDs across both the public and private sectors will be strictly enforced.
Additionally, he stated that private institutions that meet this quota will be granted tax incentives.
President Mahama further noted that a Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Act and a Legislative Instrument would be introduced to update and revise the Persons with Disabilities Act, enacted in 2006, to reflect current realities.