Labour Ministry Spearheads Employment Equity Agenda with Focus on Persons with Disabilities
The Ministry of Labour, Jobs and Employment is intensifying efforts to advance inclusive growth and ensure equitable employment across all sectors, with a renewed focus on persons with disabilities (PWDs) under an emerging employment equity policy.
This agenda is being spearheaded in collaboration with the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) and with support from Sightsavers.
Speaking at a stakeholder engagement to validate the policy framework, Theodore Mawuli Amezah, Principal Planning Officer at the Ministry, said the initiative is firmly anchored in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly the principle of “leaving no one behind.”
He explained that the policy is designed to deliberately integrate all citizens into the workforce by identifying their skills and matching them with appropriate job opportunities.
Mr. Amezah noted that since 2019, the Ministry has engaged stakeholders in developing strategies to promote the employment of PWDs.
However, despite existing legal provisions under national labour laws, implementation gaps remain.
“We have realized the need to move from policy discussions to practical action,” he said, stressing the need for stronger collaboration between public and private sector actors to translate policy into measurable outcomes.
The proposed policy introduces structured measures, including employment quotas within the public sector for persons with disabilities, alongside incentives to encourage private sector participation.
A key feature of the initiative is the development of a comprehensive database of PWDs, capturing their skills and competencies to inform recruitment and placement decisions.
This, the Ministry believes, will improve transparency and enable effective tracking of employment targets over time.
Mr. Amezah further clarified that although specific quotas for PWDs may not always be explicitly stated in public sector recruitment processes, they are often considered under preferential arrangements where applicants meet the required qualifications.
He encouraged persons with disabilities to actively apply for available vacancies and leverage institutional support systems to enhance their chances.
Participants at the engagement underscored the importance of social justice in shaping employment policies and called for collective efforts to promote inclusivity across all sectors.
They expressed optimism that the validation process would pave the way for effective implementation and measurable impact in advancing employment equity.
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