A coalition of unemployed tertiary graduates with disabilities has warned the Mahama government that it faces nationwide protests unless a clear and workable employment plan is presented within a month.
In a statement, the Coalition of Unemployed Tertiary Graduates with Disabilities said its members were “deeply disappointed, frustrated and angry” over what it described as years of state neglect.
“For over six years now, hundreds of us qualified, skilled, and certified by various tertiary institutions across the country have been left to languish in poverty at home,” the statement said.
“We have fulfilled our part of the social contract by acquiring higher education, often at great personal and financial sacrifices, yet the State has turned its back on us.”
Human rights
The coalition said the situation amounted to a violation of their fundamental human rights and dignity. Citing data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census, it noted that persons with disabilities make up around eight per cent of Ghana’s population, representing more than 2.1 million people.
While the national unemployment rate stands at about 13%, the coalition said unemployment among persons with disabilities in the formal sector is almost double that figure, with only around 27% of working-age persons with disabilities employed, compared to more than 56% of able-bodied Ghanaians.
Hard times
The group said many graduates are forced into the informal sector or street begging despite holding degrees in fields including Education, Law, Administration, and Information Technology.
The coalition urged the government to honour both local and international obligations, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and Ghana’s Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715). It also referenced International Labour Organization guidelines recommending employment quotas for persons with disabilities.
President John Dramani Mahama has previously announced plans for a five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities in both public and private sector recruitment. The coalition said this promise must be enforced.
Ultimatum
Among its demands, the group is calling for an immediate roadmap to recruit the backlog of unemployed graduates with disabilities into the public sector, enforcement of employment quotas across government agencies, and incentives for private companies to hire persons with disabilities.
It also wants an end to recruitment practices that favour able-bodied applicants over qualified persons with disabilities.
Failure by the government to respond within one month, the coalition warned, would trigger nationwide protests.
“We will mobilise our members from all sixteen regions, with our wheelchairs, white canes, and crutches, to occupy the seats of power until our voices are heard,” the statement said.
Convener Gilbert Boateng Agyare said the challenges were not beyond the capacity of government to resolve.
“We are convinced that this challenge is not insurmountable if the political will is there,” he said, adding that repeated attempts to engage relevant ministries had yielded no results.
“As a country that prides itself as a beacon of democracy in Africa, our attitude towards persons with disabilities must change,” the statement said.
Asaase Broadcasting Company airs on Asaase 99.5 Accra, Asaase 98.5 Kumasi, Asaase 99.7 Tamale, Asaase 100.3 Cape Coast, AsaasePa 107.3 (Accra).
Affiliates: Bawku FM 101.5, Bead FM 99.9 (Bimbilla), Mining City Radio 89.5 (Tarkwa), Nandom FM 101.9, Nyatefe Radio 94.5 (Dzodze), Sissala Radio 96.3 (Tumu), Somuaa FM 89.9 (Gushegu), Stone City 90.7 (Ho) and Wale FM 106.9 (Walewale).
Listen online: atlanticafricanews.com/, Sound Garden and TuneIn.
Follow us:
X: @asaaseradio995, @Asaase985ksi, @Asaase997tamale, @asaase1003, asaasepa1073
Instagram: asaaseradio99.5, asaase985ksi, asaase100.3, asaase99.7tamale, asaasepa107.3
LinkedIn: company/asaaseradio995. TikTok: @asaaseradio99.5
Facebook: asaase99.5, asaase985ksi, Asaase100.3, asaase99.7, AsaasePa107.3.
YouTube: AsaaseRadioXtra.
Join the conversation. Accra: call 020 000 9951/054 888 8995, WhatsApp 020 000 0995. Kumasi: call 059 415 7985 or call/WhatsApp 020 631 5260. Tamale: call/WhatsApp/SMS 053 554 6468. Cape Coast: call/WhatsApp 059 388 2652.
#AsaaseRadio
#AsaasePa
#TheVoiceofOurLand
