Assessment on the Accessibility of Public Buildings and its Facilities to the Disabled in Ghana

Abstract

Based on the evidence of close link between people with disability and the economy, the Government of the republic of Ghana back in 1996 developed the National Disability Policy leading to the passage of the National Disability Law, Act 715 of 2006 which aims at promoting equal opportunities, enhance, empower and seek protection of the rights of persons with disabilities irrespective of gender, age, or type of disability. However, advocacy, implementation and supervision of disability programmers are seriously lacking. Accessibility is one of the elements addressed in these policies and laws. Due to limited enforcement of disability laws, absence of National Accessibility Standards and lack of knowledge about the right of disables, laws and policies on accessibility have been largely overlooked.

Despite the efforts of the government to establish a conducive environment for participation of person with disability in all spheres of life, there are still difficulties in terms of accessing the physical infrastructure as most public buildings do not have facilities such as ramps, lifts, elevators, and so on. Some of the existing accessibility facilities are not designed according to the required standards and as a result, persons with disability face discrimination, violation of the right of persons with disability and deliberately putting impediments to the disabled to exhibit their full potential to contribute to the development of Ghana and Africa (Addi, 2011).

The paper concludes by specifying the need for policy to address the problems, challenges and the difficulties people with disability face in their daily operations.

Keywords: Accessibility, Standards, built environment, legislation, discrimination, public policy, design and planning,disabledfacilities,enforcement,and infrastructure.