Accra: Mr Philip Duah, the Executive Director of the Abak Foundation, has urged employers to cease stigmatising qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) seeking employment. He emphasized that such discrimination is disheartening and diminishes the hopes of PWDs in securing decent jobs. Mr Duah made these remarks during a dissemination and closeout session of the Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) in collaboration with Sightsavers, Abak Foundation, Challenges Worldwide, Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, and Inclusion Ghana.
According to Ghana News Agency, the two-year programme successfully enabled 127 PWDs to secure jobs through direct employment or entrepreneurship, thanks to the skills they acquired. The session aimed to celebrate the achievements of PWDs, highlight the improvement in their businesses, and recognize those who gained employment after receiving employability skills.
In Ghana, where accessing formal jobs is challenging, Mr Duah highlighted the importance of combining employability and entrepreneurship skills to equip PWDs with the necessary knowledge to secure or create decent jobs. He stated that mentorship and support are essential for PWDs seeking employment, which led to training initiatives such as building their capacity to write CVs and attend interviews.
Mr David Agyemang, the Country Lead for Sightsavers, explained that the Ghana Economic Empowerment Programme featured pathways in Employability and Entrepreneurship. The Employability pathway focused on enhancing the skills of PWDs to present themselves effectively in interviews and write curriculum vitae. The Entrepreneurship pathway aimed to build their capacity to start or enhance their businesses.
Employers also conducted self-assessments to evaluate their readiness to employ PWDs and provide necessary accommodations. Mr Agyemang noted that these efforts led to the successful transition of 127 PWDs into jobs. He emphasized the significant challenges faced by PWDs in securing employment and the positive impact of providing job opportunities for them.
Mr Isaac Wabey, a PWD and beneficiary of the programme, shared his experience of gaining soft skills and securing a formal job through the training. He has since ventured into entrepreneurship and established an NGO to assist others. Mr Wabey stressed the importance of capacity building in providing PWDs with competencies and skills for employment.
Ms Melody Emefa, another beneficiary, highlighted the lack of understanding towards PWDs and the denial of opportunities. As a producer of 'coconut tombrown,' she benefited from training on record-keeping, customer relations, and product packaging, which positively impacted her business. She called for more training and support for PWDs to overcome challenges and succeed.
