Effective the beginning of the next academic year, persons with disabilities admitted into accredited public tertiary institutions across Ghana will have their fees fully covered by the State, President John Dramani Mahama has declared.
According to President Mahama, the intervention is a moral responsibility of the State to give its vulnerable population equal access to higher education — not an act of charity.
“This initiative is not an act of charity. It is an act of justice and equality,” President Mahama stated in Accra on Friday at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability (PWDs).
The event was held under the theme: “Disability not Inability: Advancing Inclusive Access to Higher Education under the Reset Agenda.”
President Mahama explained that the policy is a strategic investment in Ghana’s most valuable resource — its people — to ensure sustained and holistic development. He described it as an activation of the nation’s conscience.
“It is an activation of our national conscience and our sense of equity and justice. It is a reminder that the soul of any nation is measured by how it treats its most vulnerable citizens,” he said.
He further noted,
“Each student supported under this policy becomes an asset to our nation — a potential engineer, a teacher, an entrepreneur, a farmer or an innovator. Their success will strengthen Ghana’s economy and enrich our collective humanity.”
Citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which revealed that more than two million Ghanaians live with various forms of disability, the President highlighted that behind those statistics are stories of resilience, perseverance, and untapped talent that must be nurtured.
He said these untapped abilities should not be seen as individual challenges but as a national loss when left unsupported.
“When they are excluded, they are wasted; but when they are included and empowered, progress is multiplied,” he emphasized.
President Mahama stressed the need to ensure that no Ghanaian is denied the chance to learn, work, or serve because of disability.
He acknowledged that although Ghana has made progress through the Disability Act of 2006 and the Inclusive Education Policy of 2015, there is still more to be done.
“Today, we are advancing that vision one bold step further. The Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities Initiative fulfils a pledge I made to the people of Ghana — to make higher education accessible to all, regardless of financial condition or circumstances,” he affirmed.
The President announced that the implementation of the policy would be led by a modernised and digitised Student Loan Trust Fund to ensure transparency and efficiency.
He also revealed that seven complementary actions will accompany the initiative, including legislative reforms, improved healthcare and early assessment, rehabilitation and empowerment programmes, and integration into local governance systems.
The President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Mr. Joseph Atsu Humdzi, expressed deep appreciation for the initiative, describing it as a life-changing opportunity for many members who have been unable to pursue tertiary education due to financial constraints.
“This initiative opens the gate for our members to access higher learning and contribute meaningfully to national development,” Mr. Humdzi stated.
By JULIUS YAO PETETSI
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