Mr Auberon Jeleel Odoom, Executive Director of Inclusion Ghana, has described the recently enacted Social Protection Act, 2025 (Act 1148), as a critical opportunity for Persons with Disability (PWDs) to negotiate better inclusivity in social protection interventions.
Dedicated to promoting the inclusion of PWDs in development programmes, Mr Odoom said the new law establishes a legal framework for coordinated social protection delivery, the creation of a Social Protection Fund, and the provision of sustainable support to the poor and vulnerable across the country.
The legislation outlines key interventions such as the Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty (LEAP) Programme, the Ghana School Feeding Programme, and other pro-poor initiatives. According to Mr Odoom, the law mandates an inclusive approach, ensuring that PWDs are not left behind. “We have several social protection programmes in Ghana, and if you look at how it started, you know, the consideration of PWDs was not part of it. PWDs turn out to be always an afterthought,” he noted.
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Highlighting the significance of the law, Mr Odoom explained that it provides a legal basis for contesting access to social protection in court if denied, reinforcing the rights of PWDs as enshrined in Article 28 of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. He added that discussions with government are ongoing and expressed hope that the amended Persons with Disability Bill, once passed, would further open opportunities for PWDs to access resources and programmes.
The Inclusion Ghana Executive Director also urged the government to ratify the Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa, emphasising that such steps would demonstrate leadership in protecting the dignity and rights of PWDs. He concluded that amendments to the bill are essential to enhance opportunities and ensure comprehensive social protection for all PWDs.
