Financial Capability and Asset Building (FCAB) for Persons with Disabilities in Ghana: the Role of Social Workers

Persons with disabilities (PWDs) are over-represented among the poorest populations in developing countries. They often encounter several challenges in accessing financial services and are financially vulnerable and prone to poverty. Most PWDs in developing countries, such as Ghana, are less likely to have the requisite economic socialisation and education leading to gainful employment, compared to their counterparts without disabilities. This could worsen their economic resilience and adversely impact their daily lives. Pragmatic and robust policy interventions are required to reverse these financial vulnerabilities for PWDs in Ghana. Guided by the financial capability framework, this paper argues that financial capability and asset building (FCAB) interventions are imperative in promoting financial inclusion and literacy for PWDs. In lieu of this, social workers have very critical roles to play, as they often work with financially vulnerable populations like PWDs. Social workers could work as advocates, mobilisers, facilitators and educators in FCAB interventions in the pursuit of breaking the cycle of poverty among PWDs.