Disability in Ghana

The Ghana Statistical Service reports from their 2021 census indicate that approximately eight percent (2,098,138 individuals) of the Ghanaian population experience some form of disability, with a higher prevalence among females (8.8%) than males (6.7%).

[2] In 2006, the government of Ghana passed the Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) together with civil organizations and disability movement groups to cover rights, education, healthcare, employment, transportation, housing, medical rehabilitation, information dissemination, and cultural participation.

[2][6] Although Ghana had signed the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in March 2007, the government completed the ratification process by August 2012.

This stigma contributes to the marginalization and exclusion of this group from fully participating in Ghanaian society, resulting in socio-economic challenges.

People with disability in Ghana face significant inequities, including poverty, inadequate access to healthcare and high unemployment rates.

[8][9] Societal biases in Ghana that view people with disability as less capable often make them unattractive candidates to potential employers.

[24] In 2016, the GFD continued fighting for clarification of the Disability Act of 2006 by petitioning President John Dramani Mahama, hoping to increase protection of equality and public health-related provisions.

[30] Ghana has religious alternative medicine institutes, known as Prayer camps, that replace hospital care for individuals with serious neuropsychiatric illness.