Ghana is under growing pressure to align its disability rights framework with continental and global standards, as advocates spotlight the country’s failure to ratify the African Disability Protocol (ADP)—a landmark instrument that could transform the lives of persons with disabilities, especially women and children.
At a workshop hosted by Voices of Women and Children with Disabilities in Ghana (VOWAC Ghana), civil society leaders, legal experts, and disability advocates made a compelling case for urgent legal reform. The event, supported by ADD International’s Disability Justice Fund, brought together women with disabilities and key stakeholders in Accra to review Ghana’s inaction and explore the consequences of delayed ratification.
“Until Ghana ratifies and operationalises the ADP, persons with disabilities—particularly women, children, and the elderly—will remain legally vulnerable and excluded from national development,” warned Ms. Juliana Afia Mahmood, Executive Director of VOWAC Ghana.
The ADP, adopted by the African Union in 2018 and more recently on 3rd June 2024 at the AU level, builds on the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) but contextualizes it for Africa’s socio-cultural realities. It calls on member states to enshrine disability rights in national laws, allocate resources for inclusion, and eliminate discrimination through institutional and policy measures.
Legal Vacuum and Institutional Silence
Despite its 2006 Persons with Disability Act, Ghana’s disability legal framework remains largely unimplemented and outdated. Critics argue that the country lacks a dedicated enforcement mechanism, specific anti-discrimination clauses, and a rights-based approach consistent with international standards.
“We don’t have a modern disability law that provides protection from abuse or outlines clear legal remedies for violations,” noted Mrs. Elsie Adwoa Amponsah Dapaah, ADD International’s Country Representative and a human rights lawyer.
She called on Parliament and the Executive to act decisively by not only ratifying the ADP but integrating it into Ghana’s legal system through robust legislative reforms and institutional accountability.
Beyond Ratification: A Call for Inclusion and Cultural Change
Speakers at the workshop emphasized that legal ratification must be followed by actionable implementation strategies. These include investment in disability-friendly infrastructure, inclusive education and healthcare systems, and representation of PWDs in decision-making.
The ADP is also seen as a tool for cultural transformation, with specific articles addressing stigma, harmful traditional practices, and gender-based violence.
“Ratifying this protocol is not just about ticking a diplomatic box. It’s about giving legal weight to the daily struggles of Ghanaians with disabilities who are still sidelined by systems not built for them,” Mrs. Mahmood explained.
She called on traditional leaders, civil society groups, and policy influencers to become active partners in the fight against stigma, noting that many PWDs continue to suffer silently due to societal neglect.
Toward an Inclusive Future
Ratification of the ADP would open doors to regional cooperation, knowledge exchange, and funding opportunities aimed at advancing disability justice. It would also elevate Ghana’s standing as a human rights leader in West Africa, particularly at a time when the African Union is encouraging its members to localize continental policies.
As the workshop concluded, participants agreed on one urgent priority: Ghana must close the gap between policy rhetoric and legal reality.
“Our Constitution guarantees equality and dignity to all. It’s time the law did the same,” Mrs. Dapaah concluded.
