DACF increases disability fund allocation to GH¢438m

The District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) has announced a significant increase in financial support for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), raising the Disability Fund allocation from an estimated GH¢225.3 million in 2025 to GH¢438.5 million in 2026.

The substantial increase comes as Ghana commemorates the 20th anniversary of the enactment of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), a landmark legislation aimed at promoting the rights, inclusion, and welfare of persons living with disabilities.

The new allocation follows a government directive to increase the share of the Disability Fund from 3 per cent to 5 per cent beginning in 2026. The move is expected to provide enhanced support for more than 2.1 million Ghanaians living with disabilities, representing approximately eight per cent of the country's population.

In a statement issued to mark the National Day of Persons with Disabilities and the anniversary of the law, DACF Administrator Harry Yamson described the occasion as both a celebration of progress and a call to accelerate efforts toward full inclusion and equal opportunities for persons with disabilities.

“For too long, our law has spoken more clearly on paper than in the daily lives of persons with disabilities,” Mr. Yamson stated.

“This anniversary is a call to finish what we began—to complete the long-awaited reforms and to give full effect to the vision for the inclusion of PWDs in national development. Behind every statistic is a person who asks not for sympathy, but for dignity, equal and accessible opportunity.”

Mr. Yamson emphasized that the DACF is aligning its interventions with broader government policies and national development priorities by transitioning from short-term assistance to sustainable empowerment initiatives.

According to him, the Fund will increasingly prioritize long-term investments designed to improve the quality of life and economic independence of beneficiaries.

These interventions will include the provision of assistive devices, vocational and skills training programmes, start-up capital for small businesses, educational support, and the development of accessible public infrastructure.

The DACF Administrator noted that the objective is to equip persons with disabilities with the resources and opportunities needed to participate fully in social and economic life while reducing barriers to employment, education, and mobility.

As part of the new approach, direct cash assistance will be limited to specific and verifiable needs, including medical expenses, prescribed medications, rehabilitation support, and special-school fees.

Beneficiaries seeking such support will be required to provide relevant documentation to ensure accountability and that resources reach those most in need.

Mr. Yamson explained that the revised framework is intended to maximize the impact of the Disability Fund while promoting transparency and responsible management of public resources.

The DACF also called on Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to strengthen oversight mechanisms and ensure that funds allocated to persons with disabilities are disbursed transparently and based on genuine needs.

Mr. Yamson urged local authorities to work closely with the National Council on Persons with Disabilities and district-level fund management committees to improve service delivery and ensure equitable distribution of resources.

He further directed assemblies to submit monthly reports on the utilization of the Disability Fund to facilitate effective monitoring, evaluation, and policy analysis.

The reporting requirement, he said, will help improve accountability and provide data to guide future interventions and funding decisions.

Reflecting on two decades since the passage of Act 715, Mr. Yamson stressed the need to move beyond policy declarations and focus on practical implementation that delivers tangible benefits to persons with disabilities.

“Let this 20th anniversary be the turning point at which we move, together, from legislation to enforcement, from Act to action,” he said.

The DACF noted that the increased allocation demonstrates government's renewed commitment to building a more inclusive society where persons with disabilities have access to opportunities, support systems, and public services that promote dignity, independence, and meaningful participation in national development.

Stakeholders within the disability advocacy space have long called for stronger implementation of disability-related policies, improved accessibility in public institutions, and increased financial support to empower persons with disabilities. The latest funding increase is expected to provide a major boost to those efforts and strengthen social protection programmes across the country.