Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority (NYA) Jacob Adongo Atule, has called for the introduction of a Legislative Instrument (LI) that would require public and private sector organizations in Ghana to allocate at least 5% of job opportunities to persons with disabilities (PWDs).
During a stakeholder dialogue held on Tuesday, July 15, themed “Promoting Inclusion Among Young People with Disabilities,” Mr. Atule highlighted that, despite ongoing national initiatives and discussions around inclusivity, individuals with disabilities continue to be marginalized—especially in employment and leadership spaces.
He argued that the proposed LI would serve as a legal mechanism to enforce compliance and ensure institutions are held responsible for meeting inclusive hiring benchmarks.
Mr. Atule also shared that attendees at the event overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of converting the policy into law, pointing out that numerous well-qualified individuals with disabilities remain jobless, which reinforces the need for swift legislative intervention.
“Persons with disabilities have commended His Excellency John Dramani Mahama for including in his budget proposal a provision to reserve 5% of jobs for persons with disabilities. Speaking at a forum, they called for this commitment to be backed by legislation, urging Parliament to pass a law that enforces the quota to ensure access to decent employment.
He added that many PWDs, despite holding university degrees, are still unemployed. As a result, they are appealing to President Mahama and lawmakers to formalize the policy into law to help secure sustainable employment for the disability community
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