“Challenges with the Implementation of the Disability Act in the Ghanaian Built Environment Sector

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Date
November 2015
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Abstract
The Persons with Disabilities Act 2006 (715) of Ghana was passed to address the needs of PWDs which include ensuring a barrier free environment and social inclusion for all manner of people irrespective of their disability. Years after the passage of the Act very little has been done in ensuring the accessibility of Persons with Disability (PWDs) to public facilities. Some new buildings are constructed without considering the needs of disabled thus making the accessibility of PWDs to the built environment difficult. The current study was carried out to address the gap by soliciting the views of designers, the local authorities, Disability Groups and PWDs on the reason or challenges associated with the implementation of the disability Act to ensure a barrier free built environment for the disabled. It also sought to find out the extent of awareness and utilization of the Act. Using the Kumasi Metropolis as a case study, a total of 76 respondent were purposively selected from professionals of the built environment such as architects, engineers, planners etc., Disability Groups (i.e. the Department of Social Welfare and KNUST Centre for Disability and Rehabilitation Studies) and PWDs who are residents in Kumasi. The data collected was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Scientist Software (SPSS) version 16. The results revealed that even though majority of the designers are aware about the disability Act, the level of utilization of the Act in the design of facilities in the country is low. The built environment still pose various degrees of restrictions to accessibility by PWDs. The challenges militating against the implementation of the disability Act include the following; Lack of enforcement of the Act, Weakness in the provisions of the Act, Lack of public awareness about the Act, Complexity and High Cost of designs which incorporate the needs of the Disabled, Inadequate policies and standards, Lack of consultation and involvement of PWDs in decision making and Ineffectiveness of Disability Groups. Public Education, review of the Disability Act and active involvement of disability Groups in decision making were some of the recommendations made.
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A thesis submitted to the Department of Building Technology, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment of the requirement for the Degree of Master of Science in Construction Management, 2015
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