The Disability and Social Development Advocacy (DaSDA) Africa has welcomed the government’s new Free Tertiary Education Policy for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), describing it as a landmark step toward inclusive education and national development.

The initiative, launched by President John Dramani Mahama, aims to provide free tertiary education for all qualified Ghanaians with disabilities. In his address at the launch, President Mahama described the policy as “a moral responsibility rather than an act of charity,” emphasising that each beneficiary represents “an asset to the nation” capable of contributing to Ghana’s growth and innovation.

In a statement issued in Accra on November 3, 2025, the Executive Director of DaSDA Africa, Mr. Wadi Isaac Kwaku, commended the government for the bold move but called for attention to sustainability, transparency, and effective job linkages to ensure the policy’s long-term success.

DaSDA Africa outlined several key recommendations to strengthen the initiative. The organisation urged the government to establish institutional mechanisms that guarantee annual funding, efficient administration, and accountability.

It also called for collaboration between the Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), the National Council on Persons with Disabilities (NCPD), and disability-led organisations to define clear eligibility criteria and monitor implementation.

To protect the integrity of the policy, DaSDA Africa cautioned against possible infiltration by non-eligible persons and recommended a rigorous but accessible verification process to ensure that genuine PWDs benefit from the initiative.

The organisation also appealed for the policy to be extended to cover postgraduate studies, noting that supporting PWDs to attain Master’s and PhD degrees would build a stronger pool of scholars and professionals with disabilities, contributing to Ghana’s inclusive growth agenda.

DaSDA Africa further emphasised the need to link education with employment and entrepreneurship. It proposed the creation of an employment-matching programme connecting PWD graduates with inclusive employers, as well as business incubation support for those pursuing entrepreneurship.

The organisation reiterated its commitment to working with the government, tertiary institutions, disability-led organisations, and the private sector to ensure that the policy achieves its transformative goals.

“Access to free education is only the first step,” the statement noted. “The real success will come when graduates with disabilities are fully integrated into Ghana’s workforce and contribute to the country’s development.”

DaSDA Africa is a grassroots organisation that advocates for the rights, empowerment, and inclusion of persons with disabilities across Africa, partnering with governments, civil society, and the private sector to advance inclusive education and employment.