Ghana President Mahama announces electric wheelchair pilot

President John Dramani Mahama has announced a pilot program to import rechargeable electric wheelchairs to improve mobility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in Ghana. The initiative, disclosed during a citizens' engagement in Goaso at the conclusion of his tour of the Ahafo Region, involves transferring the wheelchairs to the National Council on Persons with Disability for distribution.

If the pilot proves successful, the program is intended to be repeated annually. Alongside this mobility initiative, the President announced plans to amend the 2006 Persons with Disability Act, which has not been updated in 20 years.

To support these efforts, the administration has increased the allocation for persons with disabilities within the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) from three per cent to five per cent. Additionally, the President highlighted the Free Primary Healthcare Programme and the establishment of the Ghana Medical Trust Fund, known as MahamaCares, to assist with the costs of cancer and dialysis treatments.