Ghana Reaffirms Commitment to Disability Inclusion at UN Conference in New York

Edited by: Solomon Kwabena Nana-Ansah – Paaps – 

Ghana has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the rights and inclusion of persons with disabilities during the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), held at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from June 9 to 11, 2026.

The Ghanaian delegation was led by the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, and included representatives from the Ministry, the National Council of Persons with Disabilities, the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Members of Parliament, and the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability, chaired by Deputy Minister for Education and Member of Parliament, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak.

Held under the theme, “CRPD at 20: Celebrating and Consolidating Achievements and Shaping the Next Phase of Implementation in a Changing World,” the conference brought together governments, development partners and disability advocates to assess progress made over the past two decades and chart a path for the future.

Delivering Ghana’s national statement during the General Discussion at the UN General Assembly Hall, Dr. Lartey described the country’s 20-year journey under the Convention as “both a moment of reflection and a call to action.”

She highlighted several key policy initiatives demonstrating Ghana’s commitment to disability inclusion, including the proposed Persons with Disabilities Bill, 2026, currently before Cabinet, which seeks to strengthen legal protections and align national legislation with the CRPD.

The Minister also announced an increase in the allocation from the District Assemblies Common Fund for persons with disabilities from 3 percent to 5 percent to support livelihoods, education and healthcare. She further noted that more than 147,000 persons with disabilities are now enrolled on the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) programme and linked to the National Health Insurance Scheme through the BIG LEAP initiative.

Other notable interventions outlined by the Minister included the implementation of the Free Tertiary Education Policy for persons with disabilities, the integration of the Ghana Accessibility Standard into national building regulations, the Digital Acceleration Project to provide digital skills and assistive technologies, and Cabinet’s approval for the ratification of the Protocol to the African Charter on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

Despite these achievements, Dr. Lartey acknowledged that significant challenges remain, particularly in employment, public attitudes and access to assistive technologies.

“Twenty years after the adoption of the Convention, Ghana’s responsibility is not only to protect rights, but to expand opportunities and remove barriers to full participation,” she stated.

Beyond the plenary sessions, Ghana actively participated in a series of side events focusing on disability inclusion. These discussions explored co-designing policies with persons with disabilities, strengthening disability-inclusive emergency preparedness and response systems, promoting inclusive care through private sector partnerships, and mobilising sustainable financing for disability programmes.

The delegation also took part in Civil Society Day activities, engaging with organisations of persons with disabilities from around the world to exchange best practices, strengthen partnerships and promote international cooperation.

Ghana’s participation at COSP19 reaffirmed its commitment to implementing the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and advancing policies that promote equal opportunities, accessibility and the full participation of persons with disabilities in national development.