Benin/Fulfillment of Government Commitments: New Equal Opportunity Cards Received for People with Disabilities

The Ministry of Family and Social Action (MFAS) received 1,422 Equal Opportunity Cards from the National Agency for Personal Identification (ANIP) for people with disabilities. A symbolic handover ceremony took place on Friday, September 18, 2026, at the Cité ministérielle in Cotonou, marking a new milestone in the distribution process underway across the country. With this new batch, a total of 6,140 cards have now been received, of which 4,718 were already distributed between 2024 and 2025.

Presiding over the ceremony, the Minister of Family and Social Action, Ms. Véronique TOGNIFODÉ, emphasized that “a disability must never be a barrier to equality, dignity, access to services, or full participation in the life of the nation.” Addressing people with disabilities directly, she affirmed that the Equal Opportunity Card “says loud and clear that you matter and that your rights are the same as those of any Beninese citizen.” Beyond its symbolic value, this card identifies the rights and preferential measures to which people with disabilities are entitled, particularly based on the holder’s disability rating.

The Director General of ANIP, Mr. Aristide Guy ADJINACOU GNAHOUI, reiterated that this initiative is part of the goal of universal access to legal identity, in accordance with SDG 16.9, which aims to ensure legal identity for all by 2030. Benin aims to achieve this goal as early as 2028. He also emphasized the importance of continuing efforts to reach people living in remote areas and those who face difficulties accessing services.

For the beneficiaries, the card represents greater recognition of their rights and easier access to services. The mother of a young girl who received the card shared her experience: “Receiving this card today is also a way to ensure that my daughter’s citizenship is fully recognized despite her disability.” Mr. Nassirou DOMINGO, President of the Federation of Associations of People with Disabilities in Benin (FAPHB), expressed his gratitude to the President of the Republic, Romuald WADAGNI, for his efforts on behalf of people with disabilities, before encouraging those who have not yet received their cards to take the necessary steps.

As a reminder, distribution is continuing in the country’s other departments. Minister Véronique TOGNIFODÉ also announced that 4,000 new applications have already been registered by her department for 2026 and will be reviewed during the next session of the Interministerial Commission for the Implementation of Measures for the Inclusion of People with Disabilities. For behind every card issued lies a more tangible path to rights, services, and full citizenship.

Source: www.gouv.bj/