By Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
Tema, Nov. 10, GNA – The Ghana Society of the Physically Disabled (GSPD) has called the government to prioritise employment opportunities, mobility support and improved accessibility for persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the 2027 budget to address persistent inequalities confronting the community.
Mr Courage Mawuli Wormenor, National President of GSPD said although the government had demonstrated commitment to the welfare of PWDs through some social interventions, several promises, including employment opportunities and the provision of motorised wheelchairs, were yet to be fulfilled.
Mr Wormenor made the call in an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA), acknowledging the government’s decision to increase the allocation for disability-related social interventions under the District Assemblies Common Fund (DACF) from three to five per cent.
He said the increase had provided additional resources to support the needs of PWDs, enabling them to pursue various interventions through the assemblies.
He also welcomed the free tertiary education policy, saying many members of the disability community were benefiting from it.
He, however, said the policy’s impact was limited by inadequate accessibility in some tertiary institutions, urging the government to allocate resources to improve facilities and ensure that students with disabilities could access education without unnecessary barriers.
On employment, he observed a previous presidential commitment to create job opportunities for PWDs remained unfulfilled, calling for a national policy to facilitate the employment of qualified graduates with disabilities after completing their national service.
Mr Wormenor said many PWDs who progressed through tertiary education faced difficulties securing employment, despite possessing the necessary qualifications.
He explained that some encountered discrimination during recruitment processes, with employers often failing to provide feedback after interviews.
The GSPD national president stated that a structured employment arrangement, supported by a national policy, could help address graduate unemployment among PWDs and ensure that qualified persons were given equal opportunities in the labour market.
He also called for the implementation of the proposed five per cent employment quota for PWDs, saying the absence of clear implementation guidelines had made it difficult to assess progress.
On mobility support, he urged the government to fulfil its promise to provide motorised wheelchairs, describing them as essential to the independence, dignity and mobility of persons with physical disabilities.
He said access to appropriate wheelchairs would enable beneficiaries to move around independently and participate more fully in social and economic activities.
“Wheelchairs are not just chairs for us; they are our dignity and our freedom. Without them, some people are forced to crawl on the floor, which deprives them of their dignity,” he said.
Mr Wormenor also called for the speedy passage of the proposed disability law and the establishment of a disability fund to strengthen support for the community.
He expressed concern that some Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) deducted taxes from disability-related support under the Common Fund, arguing that such interventions should not be subjected to inconsistent deductions.
He said the practice was not uniform across the assemblies, with some making deductions while others did not, and called for clear national directives to guide disbursements.
He also expressed concern about delays in the release of disability-related funds by some assemblies, saying such delays affected the ability of beneficiaries to access timely support.
On employment for former tollbooth workers with disabilities, Mr Wormenor said several had lost their jobs following the discontinuation of their contracts under the Youth Employment Agency (YEA).
He explained that the previous arrangement had seen workers affected by the closure of tollbooths absorbed into the YEA, with the expectation that their contracts would be renewed after six months.
However, he said many had not had their contracts renewed under the current administration, leaving them without employment.
He appealed to the government to reinstate the affected workers, address salary payment challenges facing those still employed, and consider making their positions permanent.
Mr Wormenor said the 2027 budget should make adequate provision for employment and social protection programmes that would enable PWDs to live independently and participate meaningfully in national development.
GNA
Edited by Kenneth Odeng Adade
Writer: Laudia Anyorkor Nunoo, GNA
[email protected]