The Minority Caucus in Parliament has received a petition from the Coalition of Unemployed Graduates with Disabilities, calling for urgent measures to address the employment challenges facing qualified graduates with disabilities.
The petition was received on behalf of the Minority Caucus by the Deputy Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei. It was presented by the Convener of the Coalition, Gilbert Boateng Agyare.
The Coalition is demanding immediate recruitment of qualified unemployed graduates with disabilities whose names appear on its verified list.
It is also calling for the strict enforcement of the employment quota for persons with disabilities in public sector recruitment, as well as the introduction of incentives for private sector employers who hire qualified persons with disabilities.
In a statement, the Minority described the concerns raised by the Coalition as legitimate and grounded in Ghana’s constitutional and legal framework.
The Caucus referenced Article 29 of the 1992 Constitution, which provides protections for persons with disabilities against exploitation and discrimination and mandates Parliament to enact laws to safeguard their rights.
According to the Minority, Parliament responded to this constitutional obligation through the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which requires the State, through public employment centres, to assist persons with disabilities in securing employment.
The law also provides for tax rebates and other special incentives for private and public employers who employ persons with disabilities.
The Minority further cited Article 17 of the Constitution, which allows Parliament to introduce affirmative measures aimed at addressing social and economic inequalities.
It argued that the Coalition’s demands provide an opportunity for Parliament to strengthen such measures and ensure that existing legal protections translate into tangible opportunities.
The Caucus reaffirmed its commitment to policies aimed at closing the gap between the rights guaranteed by law and the realities experienced by persons with disabilities.
It said creating meaningful employment opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities would enable them to contribute more fully to Ghana’s economic and social development.
The Minority commended the Coalition for using the appropriate parliamentary channels to present its concerns and assured its members that the petition would receive the necessary attention.
The Caucus said it would continue to advocate for a Ghana where “ability, competence and determination, not disability, define one’s access to opportunity.”
