Lecturer at the Faculty of Management Studies, University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Dr. James Kwabena Bomfeh has urged Ghana to move beyond symbolic legislation toward concrete and meaningful implementation of the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
He said this is necessary to ensure genuine inclusion and justice for persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Delivering the maiden John Agyekum Kufuor Annual Disability (JAKAD) Lecture on Tuesday, October 14, 2025, Dr Bomfeh described the current state of disability legislation in Ghana as a “moral paradox”.
He noted that while the passage of Act 715 was a landmark achievement, its enforcement has remained weak nearly two decades later.
“This lecture is not just a celebration; it is a call to conscience,” Dr. Bomfeh said. “Legislation without implementation is like symbolism without substance. Disability inclusion is not charity. It is justice.”
Speaking on the theme “The Stark Reality of Disability Legislation in Ghana”, Dr Bomfeh criticised the lack of political will and the persistent gap between the rights guaranteed under Act 715 and the lived experiences of more than two million Ghanaians with disabilities.
He observed that the Legislative Instruments required to operationalise the Act’s provisions remain incomplete, while public awareness of the law is “alarmingly low”.
Citing findings from a 2025 accessibility audit, Dr. Bomfeh revealed that only 14 per cent of public facilities had any retrofitting for accessibility, and none of the country’s transport systems met accessibility standards, despite the Act’s 10-year deadline for compliance having expired in 2016.
To bridge the implementation gap, he proposed several measures, including strengthening and adequately resourcing the National Council on Persons with Disability with quasi-judicial powers and introducing disability awareness education in basic schools.
Dr Bomfeh also recommended making Act 715 available in accessible formats such as Braille and audio, while mandating regular accessibility audits of public infrastructure.
He further called for Ghana’s disability laws to be aligned with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) and urged the training of journalists, judges, police officers, and other public officials on disability inclusion.
The Vice-Chancellor of UPSA, Prof. John Kwaku Mensah Mawutor, commended the significance of the lecture, saying it “provides a platform for sustained dialogue on disability justice.”
He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to inclusivity, noting that all campus facilities are disability-friendly.
Paramount Chief of the Essikado Traditional Area and Chairperson for the lecture, Nana Kobina Nketsiah V, urged Ghanaians not to shy away from the disability conversation, emphasising that “disability is not inability” and that “the only disability we should fear is the disability of the mind.”
The JAKAD Lecture, instituted in honour of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, who assented to Act 715 in 2006, is a collaborative initiative between the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, the John Agyekum Kufuor Foundation, UPSA, and Rights of Youth and Disability International.
Dr. Bomfeh concluded with a powerful appeal, saying, “The stark reality of disability legislation in Ghana is not a verdict—it is a challenge. Let us ensure that justice for individuals with disabilities is not aspirational but actionable.”
