Ghana enforces rights for women, people with disabilities
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In Accra, Ghana, Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection, announced that Ghana is now enforcing laws to promote gender equity and disability inclusion, moving beyond advocacy.
Previously, social protections relied on charity, but the passage of the Social Protection Act in 2025 and its related regulations established a legal entitlement to these services. The Ghana National Household Registry now determines who receives assistance, and a dedicated Social Protection Fund supports the programs.
The government has put the Affirmative Action Gender Equity Act into practice by establishing a Gender Equity Committee and requiring compliance reports from 47 institutions. These institutions are now legally responsible for advancing gender equity, and the Ministry has educated over 2,300 stakeholders on their obligations. Additionally, the Ministry conducted 37 programs reaching nearly 11,000 people about issues like sexual violence and child marriage.
For people with disabilities, the government approved changes to the Persons with Disability Act to align with United Nations standards. Nearly 20,000 people with disabilities have received support from the Disability Common Fund, and the Ministry is working to employ 272 graduates with disabilities within the Ghana Education Service. They have also provided ICT equipment to seven special schools to increase access to technology for students who have never used it before.
The Ministry also provides welfare services to 50 elderly residents at the Central Destitute Infirmary in Bekwai, which has been renovated.
