The Challenged Foundation Urges Enforcement of Accessibility Laws for Persons with Disabilities

The Challenged Foundation has launched a nationwide campaign calling on the Government of Ghana to enforce existing accessibility laws to ensure that persons with disabilities (PWDs) can fully benefit from education and social services across the country.

The Foundation’s appeal follows the government’s recent announcement of free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, a move widely praised as a landmark in Ghana’s drive toward social inclusion.

In a statement, the Foundation commended the government for what it described as “a bold and compassionate milestone that represents hope, dignity, and a future full of possibilities.”

However, it noted that many students and citizens with disabilities continue to face physical barriers that prevent them from accessing public facilities and educational institutions independently.

“It is heartbreaking when a student with a disability gains admission but cannot access classrooms or facilities,” said Mrs. Veronica L. Amartey-Owusu, Founder of the Challenged Foundation. “It is painful when a citizen cannot enter a courtroom without assistance, or when a brilliant young person in a wheelchair has no access to a library or toilet facility.”

Persistent Barriers

The Foundation highlighted that several schools and universities still lack ramps, elevators, and accessible toilets, while public transport systems remain largely inaccessible. Courts and district assemblies, it added, are often designed in ways that make it difficult for persons with disabilities to enter or use them independently.

Other challenges include:

Inadequate and often misused disability parking spaces

Lack of tactile paths and inclusive signage in public areas

Students being carried upstairs, losing their independence and dignity

According to the Foundation, these issues violate Section 6 of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which mandates all public places to provide facilities that make them accessible to persons with disabilities.

The statement also referenced Article 29(6) of the 1992 Constitution, which requires that all public spaces have “appropriate facilities for persons with disability.”

Petition for Inclusive Infrastructure

The Foundation’s nationwide petition, available on Change.org, seeks public support to demand:

Full enforcement of Ghana’s accessibility and building laws, including Act 715 and L.I. 2465

Construction and retrofitting of accessible schools, universities, and public offices

Disability-friendly transport systems and properly enforced disability parking

Installation of accessible toilets and signage in public buildings

Establishment of Accessibility Desks at all Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs)

Increased public education on disability inclusion

“We are not asking for privileges,” Mrs. Amartey-Owusu emphasized. “We are asking for the right to equal access guaranteed under Ghana’s laws and Constitution.”

Legal Framework

The petition is grounded in key national laws and regulations, including:

Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) — Sections 6, 7, and 17 mandate accessibility in public spaces, services, and education.

Building Regulations, 2020 (L.I. 2465) — Regulations 9, 11, and 22 require accessible design, toilets, and parking facilities for PWDs.

1992 Constitution of Ghana — Articles 29(1) and 29(6) protect PWDs from discrimination and guarantee equal access to public facilities.

A Call for National Commitment

The Foundation is urging all ministries, public institutions, and citizens to support the movement toward a barrier-free Ghana.

“Persons with disabilities deserve not sympathy, but access,” the statement concluded.

Members of the public can join the campaign by signing the petition at:

🔗 https://www.change.org/OpenTheDoorsForPWDs

Contact:

Mrs. Veronica L. Amartey-Owusu

Founder, The Challenged Foundation

📱 +233 59 770 4923 / +49 176 2184 3348

🌐 https://veronicalomfa.com

📧 info@challengedfoundationgh.org | thechallenged.foundationgh@gmail.com