Graduates with disabilities are calling on the government to urgently consider them for employment, insisting they are capable of working across all sectors.
According to the coalition, members have endured significant challenges to complete their education at various tertiary institutions and cannot afford to remain unemployed.
Addressing the media, the group recalled that the National Democratic Congress (NDC), during the 2024 election campaign, promised a 5% quota in public sector recruitment for persons with disabilities.
However, they say 14 months into office, the pledge remains unfulfilled, with attempts to engage the Ministries of Gender, Finance, and even the Office of the Vice President yielding no response.
The protest began at the Accra Rehabilitation Centre and continued with a march to the Ministry of Gender, where a petition was presented. The group is also expected to visit the UN office and proceed to Parliament to submit further petitions.
The demonstration follows the expiration of a one-month ultimatum issued on February 9, demanding a clear roadmap from the government to address their long-standing unemployment concerns.
At an earlier press conference, a coalition member, Princess Mensah, said many qualified persons with disabilities remain jobless despite years of education and sacrifice.
Citing the 2021 Population and Housing Census, she noted that about 8 per cent of Ghana’s population—approximately 2.1 million people—live with some form of disability, yet unemployment among them remains significantly higher than the national average.
Madam Mensah also referenced the Persons with Disabilities Act 2006, which mandates employment support structures and provides incentives for employers who hire persons with disabilities.
She warned that failure to implement these provisions continues to marginalise graduates with disabilities despite their qualifications.
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