NCA tests website accessibility with persons with disabilities

The National Communications Authority (NCA) has engaged persons with disabilities to test the accessibility of its website, gathering first-hand feedback on how users with different needs navigate its digital services.

The exercise, held at the NCA Tower in Accra on October 20, 2026, brought together representatives of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD), persons with disabilities and their guides to assess the website's usability and identify areas for improvement.

The initiative forms part of the regulator's efforts to promote digital inclusion and ensure its online information and services are accessible to a wider section of the public, in line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA standards.

Welcoming participants, NCA Director of Consumer Affairs, Beatrice Heming, reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to working with the disability community to improve access to digital services.

She recalled the NCA's engagement with persons with disabilities during the 2025 celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, stressing that inclusion remains an important consideration in the Authority's approach to making digital technologies accessible to all.

Speaking on behalf of the GFD, Bismark Amoh commended the NCA for moving beyond awareness creation to involve persons with disabilities directly in assessing its digital platforms.

He expressed appreciation for the opportunity given to participants to share their experiences and contribute to improvements in the website's accessibility.

The exercise combined a presentation on the website's accessibility features with practical testing using mobile phones and laptops. Participants navigated different sections of the website, including news articles, consumer rights information and complaint-related services.

They also assessed the website's navigation and search functions, explored available accessibility options and submitted their observations through a feedback survey.

The hands-on approach allowed participants to evaluate the website across different devices and provide feedback based on their individual experiences, giving the Authority an opportunity to identify potential barriers users may encounter when seeking information or accessing services online.

In his closing remarks, Deputy Director of Consumer Affairs, John B. Essamuah, thanked participants for their contributions and reiterated the importance of accessibility in the delivery of communications services.

He noted that accessibility is both a consumer right and a responsibility for a regulator, adding that the exercise had provided valuable lessons for the Authority.

The engagement reflects the NCA's broader commitment to inclusive digital services, with an emphasis on involving persons with disabilities in the development and evaluation of platforms intended for public use.

It also reinforces the principle that making information available online is not enough. Digital platforms must be designed so that people with different abilities can navigate them, find relevant information and use available services meaningfully.

EA