Physical Access for Persons with Disability in Rented Houses in Kumasi, Ghana: Evidence from Compound Houses in Selected Neighbourhoods in the Metropolis

Abstract

A compound house is a single or multi-storey structure with suites of single-banked rooms (single room or chamber and hall units^[1]) that can be accessed from an unroofed square, circular or rectangular courtyard or sometimes without a courtyard. This study examines the level of accessibility of compound houses in Kumasi as well as the reasons for landlords’ inability to comply with the accessibility provisions of Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715) of Ghana. Stratified and convenience sampling techniques were adopted in selecting the landlords and compound houses in the study neighbourhoods. A total of 225 compound houses were selected for the study.  Using interviews as a means of collecting data from the sampled landlords, our conclusion suggests that more than 90 per cent of compound houses are not accessible to persons with disability, particularly those with mobility impairments. Lack of awareness of the law and financial constraint are the main reasons for landlords’ inability to comply with Act 715. It is recommended, amongst others, that accessibility guideline that specifies the level of access for PWDs be enacted.

Keywords: persons with disability; compound house; accessibility; rental housing

[1]A kind of unit in compound houses with two rooms, one serving as a bedroom and the other a hall