The Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations (GFD) has presented a draft of employment equity policy to the Minister of Employment and Labour Relations, demanding fairness in the offer of job opportunities in the country.
The equity policy advocates job opportunities for People Living with Disabilities (PWDs), and recommends interventions to halt the job discrimination, especially in the public sector, against the physically challenged.
According to the Federation, the policy is the outcome of a series of dialogue with the Employment Ministry on ways to enhance opportunities in the market for PWDs.
Mr Yaw Ofori Debrah, told ADR Daily after the presentation of the draft policy to the Minister, Ignatius Baffour-Awuah in Accra that the policy brief was a result of the continuous complaints by PWDs because of the challenges they encounter in their search for jobs.
“The draft policy aims to push the government to provide motivation and incentives to the private employers to employ PWDs. The incentives may take the form of tax-reductions among others to persuade the private organisations to employ PWDs,” he added.
He said although youth unemployment remains a challenge for most nations especially developing countries, the fact remains that the plight of PDWs is far worse because they have specific challenges.
“We are not saying that every opportunity should be given to PWDs, but efforts should be made to support them,” he added.
Reports indicate that average of 70 PWDs graduate from tertiary institutions in the country each year. That, Mr Debrah said, called for particular attention to be given to PWDs in the job market to make them economically independent.
Touching on the inclusion of PWDs in the governance environment, he said for instance “only four PWDs were elected assembly members across metropolitan municipal and district assemblies (MMDAs) in the country.”
“In the previous administration, we made a special appeal to then-President John Mahama, to direct all MMDAs to employ at least one disabled person, as a result, which 97 of the Assemblies responded favourably.
“With the change in government, the PWDS in government positions were taken out. Currently, we only have one district chief in Sunyani West who is disabled. We have no member of parliament or chief executive of any governmental institution,” he added.
Receiving the draft document, the Employment Minister assured the Federation adequate measures to address their concerns.
By: Fred Gadese-Mensah/adrdaily.com
