The Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organization has lauded the Bank of Ghana for rolling out a new framework to advance financial inclusion for persons with disabilities, describing it as a bold step toward a more equitable financial system in Ghana.
The framework, issued on April 20, 2026, operationalizes the Directive on Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities and sets clear expectations for banks and other regulated institutions to make their services more accessible.
Under the directive, financial institutions are required to develop disability inclusion policies, improve physical and digital accessibility, train staff to deliver respectful and non-discriminatory services, and design products that respond to the needs of persons with disabilities.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Veronica Denyo Kofiedu, WODAO said the initiative could be a “game-changer” in addressing long-standing barriers that limit access to financial services, particularly for women and girls with disabilities.
While welcoming the framework, the organization emphasized the importance of moving beyond policy declarations to tangible results.
It commended the Bank of Ghana’s decision to attach enforcement measures to the directive, including sanctions for institutions that fail to comply by December 31, 2026.
According to WODAO, this signals a shift from commitment to accountability—an approach needed to ensure meaningful inclusion.
The organization called on financial institutions to embrace the directive not just as a regulatory requirement, but as a responsibility to promote fairness and social inclusion.
It urged banks to actively involve Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in shaping inclusive financial services, noting that lived experiences must inform policy and product design.
WODAO also highlighted the need for accessibility across digital platforms, warning that without inclusive digital systems, financial exclusion could deepen despite broader reforms.
Reaffirming its role as a key advocate for disability rights, WODAO pledged to work closely with regulators, financial institutions and development partners to support the implementation of the framework.
The organization stressed that ensuring equal access to financial services is essential to empowering persons with disabilities and enabling their full participation in national development.
“Financial inclusion is not a privilege—it is a right,” the statement emphasized, adding that the new framework offers a critical opportunity to build a more inclusive and responsive financial ecosystem in Ghana.
