By: Robert
Kwaku Annor
The National Communications
Authority (NCA) has engaged persons with disabilities in a user-testing
exercise to assess the accessibility features of its website and gather
feedback to inform improvements to the user experience.
The exercise, held at the
NCA Tower in Accra, brought together representatives of the Ghana Federation of
Disability Organisations (GFD), persons with disabilities and their guides. It
forms part of the Authority’s efforts to promote an inclusive digital
experience and improve access to information and services on its website in
line with the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 Level AA
standards.
Welcoming participants, the
Director of Consumer Affairs, Ms. Beatrice Heming, reaffirmed the Authority’s
commitment to working with the disability community to advance digital
inclusion. She recalled the NCA’s engagement with persons with disabilities during
the celebration of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities in 2025,
noting that inclusion remains an important consideration in the Authority’s
efforts to ensure that digital technologies are accessible to all.
Speaking on behalf of the
GFD, Mr. Bismark Amoh expressed appreciation to the NCA for moving beyond
awareness-raising to actively involving persons with disabilities in evaluating
the accessibility of its digital services. He commended the Authority for providing
an opportunity for users to contribute their views and experiences to the
improvement process.
The exercise involved a
presentation on the website’s accessibility features, followed by practical
testing using mobile phones and laptops. Participants explored various sections
of the website, including news articles, consumer rights information and complaint-related
services. They also tested navigation, search functions and other available
accessibility options before sharing their observations through a feedback
survey.
The exercise provided participants
with an opportunity to assess the usability of the website across different
devices and offer feedback based on their individual experiences.
In his closing remarks, the
Deputy Director of Consumer Affairs, Mr. John B. Essamuah, thanked the
participants for their contributions and reaffirmed the importance of
accessibility in the delivery of communications services.
He noted that accessibility
is both a right of a consumer and a responsibility for a regulator, adding that
the exercise offered valuable lessons for the Authority.
The engagement reflects the
NCA’s commitment to promoting accessible and inclusive digital services by
involving persons with disabilities in their development and evaluation. It
also recognises that accessibility must go beyond the availability of digital
tools to ensure that users can meaningfully navigate and benefit from online
information and services.
