ABSTRACT
The Persons with Disability Act, 2006, makes provision for inclusive participation for
persons with disability (PWDs) in Ghana’s political governance. Nonetheless, political
participation of PWDs in Ghana is generally low. The study, therefore, seeks to
examine the extent of implementation of the Disability Act in promoting political
inclusion of PWDs. It identifies Actors and motivations for advocacy and policy
implementations for political inclusion of PWDs, challenges to participation and
proposes measures for political inclusion in local and national political governance.
Qualitative research approach was adopted for the study. Primary data was gathered
from interviews and respondents selected using the purposive sampling procedure.
Primary data was analysed qualitatively within the framework of the Human Rights-
Based Theory that underpins this study. Relevant literature served as secondary data
sources for the study.
The study found that Ghana’s Disability Act has no significant influence on the political
inclusion of PWDs. There exist a gap between policy and implementation because the
Act sets no guidelines for political engagement. Significant improvement in electoral
participation from 2008 is thus informed by efforts of a coalition of Civil Society
Organisations and specific state institutions. The study also found that the growing
influence of partisan activities in local government elections informs the withdrawal of
PWDs from the electoral participation at the grassroots level. Financial support for a
party’s preferred candidates makes local electoral participation competitive and
burdensome for PWDs due to their low financial status.
ALBERTA, A (2021). Political Participation Of Persons With Disability (Pwds) In Ghana. Afribary. Retrieved from https://track.afribary.com/works/political-participation-of-persons-with-disability-pwds-in-ghana
ALBERTA, ARTHUR "Political Participation Of Persons With Disability (Pwds) In Ghana" Afribary. Afribary, 14 Apr. 2021, https://track.afribary.com/works/political-participation-of-persons-with-disability-pwds-in-ghana. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
ALBERTA, ARTHUR . "Political Participation Of Persons With Disability (Pwds) In Ghana". Afribary, Afribary, 14 Apr. 2021. Web. 24 Nov. 2024. < https://track.afribary.com/works/political-participation-of-persons-with-disability-pwds-in-ghana >.
ALBERTA, ARTHUR . "Political Participation Of Persons With Disability (Pwds) In Ghana" Afribary (2021). Accessed November 24, 2024. https://track.afribary.com/works/political-participation-of-persons-with-disability-pwds-in-ghana