UNGA81: Gov’t commits GH¢100m to transform special needs education – Dr. Apaak

The Ghanaian government is investing GH¢100 million in special needs education as part of efforts to improve infrastructure, provide assistive devices, and give learners with disabilities greater access to quality education.

Deputy Minister for Education, Dr. Clement Abass Apaak disclosed this while speaking at an education-focused event on the sidelines of the ongoing 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA81).

He said the government had recognised significant gaps in the country’s special needs education system and was taking steps to address them.

“Support special needs education. This year we are located in 100 million Ghana cities,” he said.

Clarifying the scope of the intervention, Dr. Apaak said the funding would support the renovation of special needs educational institutions, which he acknowledged had suffered neglect over the years.

“Not only to renovate, there are about 28 special needs educational institutions which have been run down.”

“I’m being honest because over the years it looks like they were an afterthought. Nobody really paid attention.”

He said the government was renovating the institutions, adding facilities, and procuring assistive devices to improve the learning environment for students with disabilities.

“So we are renovating them, we are adding facilities, and we are even procuring assistive devices so that at least our works in the special needs institutions will have an equal opportunity.”

Dr. Apaak said the government’s commitment to inclusive education extended beyond basic education to tertiary institutions.

“We have a policy that says that every person with a disability who enters a tertiary institution in Ghana, the state takes up your bill, everything, until you graduate.”

He said the interventions were part of a broader effort to ensure that disability did not become a barrier to educational opportunity.

Ghana has already established a dedicated funding mechanism for special needs education.

In July 2026, the Education Minister, Haruna Iddrisu, announced that GH¢100 million would be allocated annually through GETFund to support free education for persons with special needs, with the funding expected to continue during President John Dramani Mahama’s tenure.

The government has also previously announced plans to provide assistive devices and improve support for learners with disabilities.