KEY POINTS
- Ghanaian persons with disabilities face high living costs due to inadequate infrastructure and lack of support.
- PWDs call for a ten percent employment quota in the public and private sectors.
- Advocacy includes subsidies for healthcare, ending discriminatory customs, and ensuring access to public facilities.
Persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana are highlighting their daily struggles, made worse by the high cost of living and the lack of sustainable employment opportunities. They face significant challenges in accessing essential services, with inadequate infrastructure and limited support systems adding to their hardships.
For many PWDs, life is not only physically demanding but also financially draining, as their needs require resources beyond those needed by able-bodied individuals.
Due to a lack of appropriate infrastructure, PWDs find it challenging to navigate public spaces safely and conveniently. People living with visual impairments or albinism often resort to hiring private taxis, as Ghana’s mass transit system is largely unsuitable for them.
This is not just to avoid the discomforts of the public transport system but also to escape the dangers posed by compromised road safety. Open gutters, broken streetlights, lack of footbridges, and unsafe walkways are everyday obstacles that make their lives more difficult and costly.
“Being a person living with a physical disability in Ghana is very expensive, so we want to plead with the government to give us sustainable jobs that can help us also compete and live a sustainable life,” one PWD representative said during an interview on the 3FM Urban Blend show. Their plea is not just about financial support but also about equal opportunities that enable them to contribute meaningfully to society.
PWDs appeal for employment quotas and better healthcare access
The disabled community in Ghana is advocating for a quota system that ensures ten percent of jobs in public and private sectors are allocated to PWDs. They believe that securing sustainable employment will help reduce their financial burdens and promote independence. The group urged the government to take action, stressing that PWDs are capable of performing jobs as effectively as their able-bodied counterparts, provided the necessary support and accessibility are ensured.
Persons with albinism have also raised specific concerns, pointing out the high cost of skin cancer treatment and the prices of sunscreen, both of which are essential for their well-being. They have called on the government to subsidize these costs to make healthcare more affordable and accessible.
Furthermore, the community wants an end to discriminatory customs that prevent people with albinism from accessing certain areas of the country, as these restrictions further limit their ability to live freely and securely.
The disabled community emphasized that the main barriers they face are societal and infrastructural, not personal. “Persons with disabilities are not disabled, but barriers are making them disabled,” they explained. They are demanding an inclusive environment where every individual, regardless of physical condition, can access opportunities, services, and facilities that ensure a dignified life.
The need for inclusive infrastructure and social change
The challenges that PWDs in Ghana face extend beyond physical barriers to social exclusion and limited access to opportunities. The community has called on the government to make public spaces, workplaces, and transport systems more accessible, ensuring that all citizens can move freely and live independently.
Without such changes, society will continue excluding persons with disabilities, limiting their ability to achieve economic independence and fully participate.
Infrastructural improvements such as footbridges, functional streetlights, accessible public transport, and safer roads would significantly improve the quality of life for PWDs in Ghana. Alongside these changes, the disabled community is calling for broader social support, including policies that promote employment opportunities and access to affordable healthcare.
The disabled community’s call for action is a reminder of the need for Ghana to adopt a more inclusive approach that recognizes the rights of all citizens.
By providing sustainable jobs, improving infrastructure, and addressing discriminatory practices, Ghana can create a society where everyone, regardless of physical ability, has the opportunity to live a productive and meaningful life.
