A group of unemployed graduates with disabilities have indicated they would embark on a nationwide demonstration by December 3, 2015, if government fails to fulfill its promise of giving them jobs.
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'Disabled graduates' cry out for jobs
According to them, they have been petitioning the government over the last one year to assist them to find jobs as required by law, but to no avail.
David Dotse Kofigah, leader of the group
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The group made this known in a petition sent to President Mahama on Thursday November 26, after picketing at the precincts of the Flagstaff House.
“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” the petition added.
The unemployed graduates with disabilities, held placards which read 'We need our appointments now', "We are hungry", to express their displeasure over the situation.
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Presidential Staffer, John Agyenim Boateng, who received the petition said he would ensure their grievances are addressed.
Below is the 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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!
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