The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has announced a major increase in funding for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), raising the allocation from an estimated GH¢225.3 million in 2025 to GH¢438.5 million in 2026 as Ghana marks the 20th anniversary of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715).
The increase follows a government directive to raise the Disability Fund allocation from 3% to 5% beginning in 2026, a move aimed at strengthening support for more than 2.1 million Ghanaians living with disabilities, representing about eight per cent of the population.
In a statement issued to commemorate the National Day of Persons with Disabilities and the anniversary of the legislation, DACF Administrator, Harry Yamson, described the milestone as an opportunity to accelerate efforts toward full inclusion of persons with disabilities in national development.
“For too long, our law has spoken more clearly on paper than in the daily lives of persons with disabilities,” Mr. Yamson said.
“This anniversary is a call to finish what we began to complete the long-awaited reforms and to give full effect to the vision for the inclusion of PWDs in national development. Behind every statistic is a person who asks not for sympathy, but for dignity, equal and accessible opportunity.”
Mr. Yamson said the DACF remains aligned with government policy and national development goals, noting that the Fund, established under Article 252 of the 1992 Constitution, serves as a key mechanism for channeling resources to district assemblies and promoting inclusion at the local level.
He indicated that the Fund is moving away from one-off cash handouts toward long-term investments that can improve the lives of beneficiaries.
These include the provision of assistive devices, skills training, start-up capital for businesses, accessible infrastructure, and educational support.
According to him, direct cash assistance will be limited to specific and verifiable needs such as medical bills, medication, and special-school fees, with beneficiaries required to provide supporting documentation.
Mr. Yamson also called on Local Government Authorities to ensure transparent, accountable, and needs-based disbursement of the funds in collaboration with the National Council on Persons with Disabilities and district-level fund management committees.
He further urged assemblies to submit monthly reports on the utilisation of the disability fund to facilitate effective monitoring and analysis.
“Let this 20th anniversary be the turning point at which we move, together, from legislation to enforcement, from Act to action,” he said.
The DACF said the increased allocation reflects a renewed commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities have access to opportunities and support systems that promote dignity, independence, and meaningful participation in society.