Ghana Must Design Digital Platforms With Persons With Disabilities In Mind -Internet Society Ghana

Ghana must guarantee that individuals with disabilities are included in the early stages of creating websites, mobile applications, and other digital platforms to prevent technology from causing additional exclusion, according to Dr. Maud Ajele Ashomelu, President of the Internet Society Ghana Chapter. She emphasized that digital accessibility should not be considered a post-development task.

The call for inclusive design came during a digital accessibility training workshop for persons with disabilities in Accra, which gathered web developers and individuals with various impairments to identify barriers and showcase assistive technologies.

Dr. Ashomelu stressed that persons with disabilities should be part of the development process from the beginning because they are best positioned to spot issues that developers might otherwise miss. Accessibility requirements vary depending on a person's impairment, she explained, citing the need for magnification features for those with visual impairments and transcription for deaf users to access video content.

She also advocated for the inclusion of persons with disabilities in policies governing Ghana's digital transformation, asserting that internet access is a fundamental human right.

However, for participants in the workshop, inaccessible digital platforms are already impacting their ability to independently access essential services. Ephraim Oraka Tetteh, an Assistive Technology Facilitator and Technology Coordinator who is visually impaired, recounted how inaccessible mobile applications and websites have hindered his ability to perform basic transactions without assistance.

He cited difficulties with financial institutions' mobile applications and government websites, highlighting the significance of inclusive design in enabling such independence.

Oraka Tetteh emphasized that while assistive technologies like TalkBack and keyboard navigation can help, they only function effectively when platforms are designed with accessibility in mind. He noted that the issue extends beyond mere inconvenience, potentially leading to emotional frustration, especially when urgent tasks must be completed.

He welcomed the workshop, stating that it provided a platform for developers and persons with disabilities to communicate directly, fostering understanding and enabling developers to build platforms with accessibility requirements from the outset.

Joseph Seyina Susu, another visually impaired participant, explained that poorly configured websites could prevent screen-reader users from completing tasks easily. He illustrated how a website properly configured allows speech software to read information, facilitating independent navigation for visually impaired users. However, Susu highlighted that some websites fail to make essential features accessible, such as locating or activating "submit" buttons on online forms, thus excluding visually impaired users.

He called for widespread implementation of digital accessibility to ensure equal access to information and services for persons with disabilities, enabling a more inclusive digital society in Ghana.