The Majority Leader, Mahama Ayariga, has called for the introduction of legislation that would require institutions, factories and government agencies to reserve employment quotas for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), as part of efforts to promote inclusion and reduce unemployment among the group.
Commenting on a statement delivered in Parliament on Tuesday, June 23, Mr. Ayariga said Ghana must take deliberate steps to integrate PWDs into the formal workforce, stressing that their continued exclusion represents a national concern.
He described as “a major national embarrassment” the sight of persons with disabilities resorting to street begging for survival.
“We as a country must consider it as a major national embarrassment when our colleagues have to earn their living at traffic lights begging,” he said.
He argued that Parliament should consider enacting laws that compel factories, organisations and public institutions to reserve a quota for PWDs, similar to existing efforts to promote gender representation.
“As a Parliament, we must enact legislation which will compel a quota in every factory, organisation and institution. Just as we are enacting quotas for gender, we must also enact quotas for disabled persons,” he stated.
Mr. Ayariga further maintained that persons with disabilities possess the required qualifications and competencies to work in various sectors, and should not be excluded from employment opportunities.
“Invariably there is no way that you won’t find a disabled person who is qualified on his own to be an employee of a certain factory,” he added.
Beyond employment, the Majority Leader also urged political parties to create internal quotas to enable persons with disabilities to contest parliamentary seats, saying such a move would enhance representation in governance.
“Political parties as well must make an effort to field a number of disabled persons so that they can also come to Parliament,” he said.
