Analyst urges inclusive digital policies for PWDs
The 25th edition of the GSMA Mobile Disability Gap Report has revealed that persons with disabilities remain significantly less likely to own a mobile phone or access the internet compared to the general population.
The report stresses that this gap is not merely a social challenge but an economic one, given that mobile connectivity is now the gateway to education, healthcare, and financial services.
Reacting to this on the Business Breakfast on Zed 101.9FM, Economic Analyst Emmanuel Boateng underscored the structural barriers behind the gap.”
“It’s not just cost that impedes the ability to access these digital technologies. Digital literacy is also another challenge. These people with disabilities will typically need some level of skill, some specialized training to be able to use technology efficiently,” he said.
Mr Boateng observed that training programmes are rarely tailored for PWDs, leaving them unable to benefit from national initiatives.
“Without an intentional or deliberate plan to include them in digital skills initiatives, we launch programs like the One Million Coders Program, but they are usually blanket programs. There is no targeted intervention. They would technically not be able to access it as much as someone who doesn’t have any form of disability,” he explained.
Mr Boateng also pointed to affordability as a pressing issue.
“Affordability is a physical barrier not only for those living with disabilities but also for the populace. The recurring cost of data services weighs heavily on those with disabilities and exacerbates their level of inclusion,” he added.
The GSMA report concludes that bridging the mobile disability gap requires targeted policy measures: affordable data packages, inclusive digital-skills training, and investment in accessible technologies.
