Newly enrolled lawyer, Mattah Tobias Dennis Xorse Esq., has announced his intention to sue state institutions for failing to fully implement the Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715).
The visually impaired lawyer, who was called to the Bar last Friday, expressed frustration over the lack of accessibility provisions for persons with disabilities (PwDs) in Ghana and vowed to take legal action to address these shortcomings.
“If we are paying the same school fees as our colleagues, who have access to books and libraries, then we should be given the same services,” Xorse stated. “We all sit for the same exams, yet we aren’t considered because we lack the necessary facilities. No special provisions were made for me, and if I had failed any of my papers, I wouldn’t be here today.” He emphasized that in other parts of the world, institutions are designed to be inclusive, ensuring equal opportunities for all, but that is not the case in the schools he attended.
On October 11, 2024, a total of 777 lawyers were enrolled as Barristers and Solicitors of the Supreme Court of Ghana at a ceremony held at the Accra International Conference Centre (AICC).
Xorse made it clear that his focus is on ensuring that Ghana becomes more inclusive, especially for persons with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.
“It’s my aim to see that PwDs get their fair share of the national cake,” he said, adding that once he obtains his full legal license, he will begin taking on state institutions that fail to comply with the law.
His comments come at a time when PwDs in Ghana have long called for equality in terms of access to opportunities and infrastructure that allow them to enjoy the same services as the average Ghanaian.
According to the 2021 Population and Housing Census, persons with disabilities constitute 8% of Ghana’s population, amounting to 2,098,138 individuals. Although Ghana has signed and ratified various international agreements, including the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, PwDs still face significant discrimination and challenges in accessing education, healthcare, transportation, and other basic services.
The Persons With Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), mandates that public spaces and institutions must be made accessible to PwDs. It also requires the Minister of Education to designate schools in each region equipped to cater to PwDs and ensures that their needs are taken into account in the design of transportation networks.
Despite progress made by civil society organizations and government efforts, including initiatives like the National Council for Persons with Disabilities and the 3% District Assembly Common Fund allocation for PwDs, much remains to be done to improve the lives of PwDs in Ghana.
In the lead-up to the 2024 general elections, both the New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the National Democratic Congress (NDC) have pledged to support PwDs. Former President John Dramani Mahama, the NDC’s presidential candidate, has promised free tertiary education for all PwDs if elected, while the NPP’s Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia has made a similar commitment. Both candidates have also pledged to create funds to assist PwDs in accessing higher education.
Despite these promises, the implementation of existing laws remains a significant challenge, and it is against this backdrop that Dennis Xorse plans to hold state institutions accountable for their inaction.