The Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Apaak, has maintained that the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) remains committed to supporting Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana.
Addressing Parliament to mark this year’s National Day for Persons with Disabilities, Dr Apaak called for support as the government rolls out initiatives aimed at ensuring inclusion and accessibility at all levels.
“Mr Speaker, the Honourable Minister for Education, Haruna Iddrisu, has announced the development of a mathematics curriculum tailored for visually impaired students to enhance access to STEM education.
“Additionally, work is ongoing to establish a Ghanaian Sign Language Curriculum to support deaf or hearing-impaired learners. Mr Speaker, education must be truly accessible, and no financial barrier should stand in the way of a child’s dreams,” Dr Apaak stated.
He also reiterated that “Persons with Disabilities will enjoy free tertiary education, enabling full participation in national development. The Honourable Minister has urged leaders within the disability community to register with the Student Loans Trust Fund (SLTF) to qualify under this policy. The Ministry, through GTEC, is gathering data on students with disabilities to roll out the policy effectively.”
According to him, a multi-stakeholder committee has been established by the Minister for Education, co-chaired by the Deputy Minister for Education, Dr Clement Abas Apaak, and the National President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), Mr Joseph Atsu Hormadzi, to develop a roadmap for the implementation of free tertiary education for PWDs.
The Builsa South lawmaker added that the committeeheld its first meeting a few days ago at the Ministry of Education.
“Mr Speaker, H.E. President Dramani Mahama is committed to strengthening Ghana’s legal framework for disability rights and is prioritising the passage of the Persons with Disabilities (Amendment) Bill and will introduce a legislative instrument to operationalise the reenacted act.
“Mr Speaker, the government is committed to partnering with private sector employers to ensure that at least 5% of their competent workforce is recruited from the disability community. This is a critical step toward economic empowerment and workplace inclusion. We are confident that many qualified persons with disabilities are capable of holding key positions in our workforce.”
By: Rainbowradioonline.com/Ghana
