[ 2015-11-27 ]

Give us jobs; we are hungry – ‘Disabled graduates’ cry out
A group of unemployed graduates with disabilities
have served notice they will embark on a
nationwide demonstration by December 3, 2015, if
government fails to fulfill its promise of giving
them jobs.

The group said this in a petition presented to
President Mahama on Thursday November 26, when
they picketed at the precincts of the Flagstaff
House.

Comprising those with visual and hearing
impairment, the graduates held placards some of
which read “PWDs are hungry”
“GES, we need our appointments” and
Ghana government act now” amongst others

According to them, the Youth Employment Agency
(YEA) has failed to heed calls by the Minister for
Employment, to have them enrolled onto the scheme.
“We would like to remind you on your
Excellency’s promise of employing five
thousand (5000) persons with disability as stated
in this year’s state of the Nations address
which has not come to fruition” portions of
the petition said.

The group, numbering ten represented each of the
ten regions. Receiving their petition, a
Presidential Staffer, John Agyenim Boateng, said
although he could not give them any assurance as
to when they would be employed, he was sure it
would be soon. Below is the group’s
petition EMPLOYMENT OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES
This letter is a reminder as part of our numerous
attempts to express our unflinching desire for the
employment of graduates with disabilities in the
country. As unemployed graduates with disability,
we have been petitioning the government over the
last one year to assist us to find jobs as
required by law. Accordingly, at the instruction
of the Chief of Staff, the Minister of Employment
and Labor Relations directed the Youth Employment
Agency (YEA) to employ some of us.

Therefore, on 25th June, the Public Services
Commission interviewed fourteen (14) of us for
YEA. Soon afterwards, Mr. Vincent Kuagbenu then
assumed office as he CEO of YEA from July this
year. Since then, he has refused to issue our
appointment letters in spite of the several
ministry directives. Again, on the initiative of
the Minister, eighteen (18) of us were also sent
to the Ghana Education Service (GES) through the
Ministry of the Education for Jobs that is also
yet to yield any positive results. It is equally
important to mention that, there are hundreds of
unemployed graduates with disability in the
country most of whom have been without jobs for
years and as a result find themselves in horrible
conditions. It is against this background that we
have constantly repeated our call on the
government to implement a comprehensive employment
policy for Persons with Disability (PWDs) to
ensure that PWDs especially graduates are
gainfully employed but to no avail. Further, we
would like to remind you on your
Excellency’s promise of employing five
thousand (5000) persons with disability as stated
in this year’s state of the Nations address
which has not come to fruition. We reaffirm our
position that, we do not pursue this course just
because we want to be shown sympathy or heard. We
do so because anything less would be an
unequivocal denial of our rights and a rejection
of development and growth. This is because as a
country, we cannot develop to our maximum
potential if we are actively or tacitly allowing
the exclusion of certain persons or groups. We are
of the conviction the government strongly respects
the inherent dignity and worth of all persons with
disability and that you are committed to promoting
our rights by responsibly and responsively
supporting equal access to employment. As persons
with disability, we have waited a very long time
to have our full rights to access employment
realized. We deserve not to have to wait any
longer. Therefore, we reasonably request the
following. 1. YEA and GES issue our appointment
letters immediately 2. Written verification that
an employment policy or persons with disability
will be formulated and implemented by end of the
year. 3. We are set to embark on a massive
nationwide demonstration on 3rd December, 2015 not
only to express our desperation, but to demand our
right if our concerns are not addressed. 4. We
look forward to your immediate action in this
ground-breaking work for all persons with
disabilities.

Source - Citifmonline

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