A clarion call has been made to employers across Ghana to end the stigma against qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) seeking employment, as highlighted by Mr. Philip Duah, Executive Director of the Abak Foundation.
Speaking at the closing session of the Economic Empowerment Programme (EEP) in Accra, Mr. Duah emphasized how discrimination discourages PWDs and limits their opportunities to secure meaningful jobs.
The two-year EEP initiative, a collaborative effort involving Sightsavers, Abak Foundation, Challenges Worldwide, Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations, and Inclusion Ghana, has successfully equipped 127 PWDs with employability and entrepreneurial skills.
These skills have enabled many to gain direct employment or launch their own businesses, showcasing the program’s pivotal role in breaking down barriers.
Mr. Duah underscored that in a challenging job market, combining employability training with entrepreneurship mentorship is critical to providing PWDs the tools to navigate and create job opportunities. The program focused heavily on practical skills such as CV writing, interview preparation, and business management, ensuring participants were well-prepared to compete and succeed.
Sightsavers’ Country Lead, Mr. David Agyemang, detailed the dual pathways of the EEP, highlighting how employers were also engaged through self-assessment exercises to evaluate their readiness to accommodate PWDs. This led to the formation of the Ghana Business and Disability Network, a coalition aimed at fostering inclusive workplaces nationwide.
The success stories of beneficiaries like Mr. Isaac Wabey and Ms. Melody Emefa speak volumes about the program’s impact. Mr. Wabey, once unemployed, credits the training for helping him secure formal employment, start his own business, and even establish an NGO to support others with disabilities. Ms. Emefa, a physically challenged entrepreneur producing coconut tombrown, shared how capacity building and business support helped improve her packaging, customer relations, and sales.
Despite these gains, beneficiaries stress the ongoing need for more training, mentorship, and funding to close the gap that still hinders many PWDs from realizing their full potential. As calls for an end to stigma grow louder, the EEP stands as a model for inclusive empowerment, proving that with the right support, persons with disabilities can contribute meaningfully to Ghana’s socio-economic development.
