President John Dramani Mahama has officially marked a “historic milestone” in Ghana’s pursuit of equity with the introduction of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disability (PwDs) policy, emphasizing that the initiative is an act of justice and a moral responsibility, not charity.
Speaking at the launch, President Mahama stressed the human element behind national disability statistics, which indicate over two million Ghanaians living with disabilities. He asserted that supporting these students ensures their “perseverance, talent, and dreams” are realized, transforming them into national assets that will “strengthen Ghana’s economy and enrich our collective humanity.”
The President noted that this new policy builds directly upon the Inclusive Education Policy introduced in 2015, fulfilling a commitment he made to ensure higher education access irrespective of “financial condition or circumstances.”
Implementation of the free education scheme will be managed by the revamped and digitized Student Loan Trust Fund, ensuring transparency and efficiency. Further bolstering the initiative, the Ghana Education Trust Fund (GETFUND) has committed an annual contribution of GHS 50 million to support the program.
President Mahama rallied stakeholders, concluding that the collective duty is to guarantee that disability never prevents a Ghanaian from the opportunity “to learn, to work, and to serve,” as the nation strives to build a society that “leaves no one behind.”
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
