By Love Wilhelmina Abanonave
President John Dramani Mahama has officially launched the free tertiary education Initiative for persons with disabilities today in Accra complementing the broader equity goals of the government’s educational reforms.
The launch themed, “Disability not inability: Advancing inclusive access to higher education under the reset agenda” was held at the Accra College of Education on October 24, 2025 and had the Minister of Education, Haruna Iddrisu, Chief Executive Office of the Student Loan Trust Fund, Madam Saajida Shiraz, National President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, Mr. Joseph Atsu Homadzi and Deputy Minister for Agriculture, John Dumelo in attendance to crown the event under the Students Loan Trust Fund (SLTF).
According to him, the policy aims to make higher education more accessible and inclusive by covering full fees for persons with disabilities enrolled in Public Tertiary Institutions.
President Mahama also emphasized that the initiative is not an act of charity but an act of Justice and equality.
According to him, “It is a strategic investment in Ghana’s most valuable resource, it’s people.
No person should be denied the chance to learn and work in this country”.
He also assured the PWDs that he will establish in each district a disability health and resource center to provide specialized health assessments for persons with disabilities.
“Every district and municipal assembly will establish disability desks which will integrate disability issues into the district assemblies Development bank.
We will also enforce a minimum five percent employment quota for persons with disabilities across our public and private sectors”.
He also mentioned increasing the allocation in the district assemblies common fund from three to five percent next year for persons with disabilities.
The Education Minister, shared the roadmap for the initiative and explained how prospective persons with disabilities can access the policy.
He also added that under President Mahama’s directive, GETFUND would make a yearly donation of GHS 50 million in support of the student loan trust fund and no fees stress policy.
Addressing the issue of students having to speak English in schools, he instructed that the Ghana Education Service (GES) ensures that the teacher use of the mother-tongue is now compulsory in schools.
Speaking at the launch, the President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, Mr. Joseph Atsu Humadzi expressed his gratitude for the initiative while appreciating President Mahama for his vision of inclusion.
“Mr. President, you are a big advocate for persons with disabilities in Ghana. We salute you for your inclusivity”, he said.
Mr. Homadzi however called on the government to provide accessible infrastructure, assistive technology, sign language support and inclusive learning materials to accompany the policy rollout.
