Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability, Dr. Clement Abas Apaak, has called for renewed commitment towards addressing the challenges confronting persons with disabilities despite the progress Ghana has made in recent years.
In a Facebook post following his participation in the 19th Session of the Conference of States Parties (COSP19) to the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the United States, Dr. Apaak stressed the need for sustained efforts to build a society where everyone has equal opportunities regardless of their physical condition.
Reflecting on discussions at the conference, he noted that the event provided a valuable platform for countries to evaluate their achievements and reaffirm their commitment to disability inclusion.
“The conference provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in advancing disability inclusion and to reaffirm our commitment to building a more accessible and equitable society,” he wrote.
Dr. Apaak indicated that Ghana’s presentation at the conference highlighted a number of interventions being implemented to improve the lives of persons with disabilities.
Among the initiatives he mentioned were the proposed Persons with Disabilities Bill, increased support through the District Assemblies Common Fund, free tertiary education for persons with disabilities, and expanded social protection programmes.
The Deputy Minister expressed satisfaction with Ghana’s progress in promoting disability rights but maintained that significant obstacles still exist.
“While significant progress has been made, challenges such as employment barriers, stigma, and limited access to assistive technologies remain. We must continue working to ensure that no one is left behind,” he stated.
According to him, addressing these challenges will require collective action from government institutions, Parliament, civil society organisations and development partners.
Dr. Apaak noted that disability inclusion should not be viewed merely as a social welfare issue but as a matter of rights, dignity and equal participation in national development.
He further reaffirmed his commitment to advancing policies that protect persons with disabilities and guarantee their welfare.
“As Chairman of the Parliamentary Caucus on Disability, I remain committed to supporting policies that protect the rights, dignity, and welfare of persons with disabilities and promote their full participation in national development,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing efforts to strengthen disability-inclusive governance and ensure that persons with disabilities have access to opportunities in education, employment and social protection.
