By Maxwell Awumah, GNA
Ho (V/R), April 27, GNA – The Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organisation (WODAO) has commended the Bank of Ghana for issuing the Implementation Framework for the Directive on Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities, describing it as a major step towards equitable access to financial services in Ghana.
In a statement signed by Madam Veronica Denyo Kofiedu, the Executive Director of WODAO, the organisation said the move reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to inclusive development and expanded opportunities for persons with disabilities, particularly women and girls who continue to face significant barriers in accessing financial services.
The statement said the framework, issued on April 20, provided clear timelines and accountability measures for all regulated financial institutions to implement practical measures aimed at promoting disability inclusion in the banking and financial sector.
According to WODAO, the framework requires financial institutions to develop and implement disability inclusion policies, improve infrastructure and service delivery channels to ensure accessibility, train staff to provide respectful and non-discriminatory services, and design inclusive financial products tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.
The organisation said it particularly welcomed the Bank of Ghana’s firm enforcement measures, including sanctions for institutions that fail to comply by December 31, 2026.
The WODAO noted that the enforcement provisions demonstrated the central bank’s commitment not only to policy formulation but also to ensuring measurable and meaningful change in the financial sector.
The statement described the framework as a significant intervention that would help dismantle structural barriers and create a more inclusive financial ecosystem for persons with disabilities across the country.
The WODAO called on all financial institutions to treat the directive not merely as a regulatory obligation, but as a moral and developmental responsibility that must be pursued with commitment and urgency.
It urged banks and other financial service providers to actively engage Organisations of Persons with Disabilities in the design and implementation of inclusive financial services and to prioritise accessibility across both physical and digital platforms.
“Financial inclusion is not a privilege; it is a right. This framework marks a significant step toward dismantling barriers and building a more inclusive financial ecosystem in Ghana,” the statement said.
The WODAO reaffirmed its readiness to collaborate with financial institutions, regulators, and other stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the directive and ensure that women and girls with disabilities are not left behind in Ghana’s financial inclusion agenda.
The organisation said it remained committed to advancing the rights, inclusion, and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities through advocacy, capacity building, and community engagement.
GNA
Edited by Maxwell Awumah/Benjamin Mensah