Leaders of a group of unemployed graduates with disabilities, led by Mr. Gilbert Agyare, have engaged the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey to discuss employment challenges confronting persons with disabilities in Ghana.
Welcoming the group, the Minister expressed appreciation for the visit and underscored the Ministry’s commitment to listening to their concerns and working collaboratively to address them.
The Minister indicated that the engagement forms part of ongoing consultations, noting that the group is the third disability association she has met as part of efforts to address unemployment concerns of persons with disabilities.
Mr Gilbert Agyare, speaking on behalf of the group, highlighted the persistent unemployment situation among graduates with disabilities, describing it as a long-standing national concern. He called for deliberate recruitment mechanisms, including the dedicated employment clearances and the effective implementation of the 5% employment quota for persons with disabilities within the public sector.
He further appealed for structured pathways that would ensure fair opportunities for persons with disabilities, noting that open competition without tailored support often disadvantages them.
In response, the Minister assured the delegation that government remains committed to advancing inclusive employment policies. She disclosed that the Ministry would work closely with the National Council on Persons with Disabilities and other relevant institutions to strengthen data systems and develop a comprehensive database to support job placement efforts.
Hon. Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey indicted that the Ministry would monitor the utilization of the District Assemblies Common Fund allocation for persons with disabilities, particularly in areas of skills development, capacity building, and enterprise support.
She emphasized the importance of coordinated engagement among disability groups to avoid fragmentation and to ensure that interventions are evidence-based and measurable.
” I want to assure you that you will not be left behind. Government is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities, including unemployed graduates are meaningfully included in employment opportunities and national development efforts.” She said.
The Minister concluded by encouraging the group to collaborate with the Ministry and its agencies in providing detailed data that would facilitate targeted employment interventions and sustainable support programmes.
Present at the meeting were the Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, Mr. Edwin Kweku Andoh and the Director of the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry, Mrs Florence Ayisi Quartey.
