By Benjamin Nii Nai Anyetei
Ghana’s 2025 International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) celebration in Accra placed the spotlight firmly on the Minister for Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Samuel Nartey George, whose announcements signalled one of the country’s strongest commitments yet to digital inclusion and disability rights.
Speaking at the national ceremony held at the NCA Tower under the theme “Assistive Technology: Empowering Lives, Advancing Inclusion,” the Minister declared that accessible technology is “not a privilege, but a human rights obligation,” referencing Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act (Act 715) and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD).
Mr. Sam George announced that as the Ministry rolls out the One Million Coders Programme next year, 50,000 fully funded training allocations have been reserved for persons with disabilities. He explained that this initiative is a deliberate step to ensure that persons with disabilities are fully included in Ghana’s digital transformation.
Launched in April 2025, the One Million Coders Programme aims to train one million Ghanaians in digital skills such as coding, data science, software development, cybersecurity, and other emerging technology fields. According to the Minister, the inclusion of 50,000 persons with disabilities will ensure equal access to digital opportunities, boost employability, and support Ghana’s ambition to become a competitive technology hub.
Mr. Sam George emphasised that digital accessibility must become a national norm, and reiterated that government is working to ensure all public digital platforms, national ICT infrastructure, and communication services meet accessibility standards.
He further noted that the Ministry is collaborating closely with the National Communications Authority (NCA), the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), and the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection (MoGCSP) to drive nationwide awareness and enforcement of digital accessibility requirements.
Participants at the event welcomed the Minister’s announcement, describing it as a significant step toward expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities within Ghana’s fast-growing technology ecosystem.
The 2025 IDPD celebration concluded with a renewed national call for inclusive technology policies, accessible digital platforms, and stronger investment in assistive technologies—areas Samuel Nartey George reaffirmed as central to Ghana’s digital future.
