Accra, April 27, 2026 — The Women with Disability Development and Advocacy Organization has praised the Bank of Ghana for introducing a new implementation framework aimed at promoting financial inclusion for persons with disabilities across the country.
The framework, which operationalizes the Directive on Financial Inclusion for Persons with Disabilities, was issued on April 20, 2026, and sets out clear timelines and accountability measures for regulated financial institutions to make their services more accessible and inclusive.
In a statement signed by its Executive Director, Veronica Denyo Kofiedu, WODAO described the move as a “landmark step” towards ensuring equitable access to financial services, particularly for women and girls with disabilities who continue to face systemic barriers in the banking sector.
According to the organization, the framework requires financial institutions to develop and implement disability inclusion policies, upgrade infrastructure and service delivery channels, train staff to provide respectful and non-discriminatory services, and design financial products tailored to the needs of persons with disabilities.
WODAO further welcomed the central bank’s commitment to enforcement, noting that sanctions would be applied to institutions that fail to comply with the directive by December 31, 2026.
“This demonstrates a strong commitment not only to policy development but to real, measurable change,” the statement said.
Call for inclusive action
The organization called on banks and other financial service providers to treat the framework not merely as a regulatory requirement, but as a moral and developmental obligation.
It urged institutions to actively engage Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) in the design and implementation of inclusive financial services, while prioritizing accessibility across both physical banking spaces and digital platforms.
WODAO stressed that inclusive financial systems were essential to national development, as exclusion continues to limit the economic participation and independence of persons with disabilities.
Commitment to collaboration
The organization reaffirmed its readiness to work with regulators, financial institutions and other stakeholders to support the effective implementation of the directive.
“As a leading organization advocating for the rights of women and girls with disabilities in Ghana, we stand ready to collaborate to ensure this framework translates into real impact,” the statement noted.
It emphasized that financial inclusion must be recognized as a fundamental right, not a privilege, adding that the new framework represents a critical step toward dismantling long-standing barriers within Ghana’s financial ecosystem.
WODAO is a civil society organization dedicated to promoting the rights, inclusion and empowerment of women and girls with disabilities through advocacy, capacity building and community engagement.