“It is not an act of charity — it is justice,” says the President
In what many are describing as a landmark moment in Ghana’s pursuit of inclusion and equality, President John Dramani Mahama has officially announced the introduction of Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities.
Speaking at a special ceremony in Accra, the President described the initiative as “a moral responsibility and an act of justice,” emphasising that true national progress is measured by how society treats its most vulnerable members.
“It has been another historic milestone in our country’s journey towards true inclusion and equality,” President Mahama said. “Behind the statistics of over two million Ghanaians living with disabilities are real human stories of perseverance, talent, and dreams that deserve to be fulfilled.”
According to him, the policy goes beyond financial assistance — it represents a national commitment to empowering Ghanaians with disabilities to reach their full potential. “Each student supported under this policy becomes an asset to our nation, whose success will strengthen Ghana’s economy and enrich our collective humanity,” he added.
The President recalled that in 2015, his administration introduced the Inclusive Education Policy, which was designed to ensure that children with disabilities have access to quality education at all levels. “Today, we advance that vision further by fulfilling my pledge to make higher education accessible to all, regardless of financial condition or circumstances,” he affirmed.
Implementation of the new initiative will be led by the Student Loan Trust Fund (SLTF), which has been revamped and digitised to ensure transparency and efficiency. The programme will receive an annual support of GHS 50 million from the GETFund to sustain its operations.
President Mahama urged all stakeholders — from educational institutions to civil society and the private sector — to work together to make the initiative a success.
“Our collective task is to ensure that no Ghanaian is denied the chance to learn, to work, and to serve because of disability. Together, we are building a Ghana that leaves no one behind,” he said.
The announcement has been widely welcomed by advocacy groups and education stakeholders as a major step forward in bridging the gap for persons with disabilities in Ghana’s education system.
With this policy, Ghana becomes one of the few African countries to introduce a national framework guaranteeing free tertiary education specifically for persons with disabilities — a move that aligns with global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on inclusive and equitable quality education.
