Break barriers hindering employment access for persons with disabilities – David Aniah Awine
Aniah Awine emphasized that the right to employment for persons with disabilities is constitutionally guaranteed and should not be treated as an act of charity.
The Executive Director of the Africa Disability Alliance and Development (ADAD) and former Upper East Regional President of the Ghana Federation of Disability Organizations, David Aniah Awine, has called for the removal of barriers that prevent persons with disabilities from accessing employment opportunities in Ghana.
Speaking on the Big Mike Breakfast Show on Tuesday, January 27, Aniah Awine emphasized that the right to employment for persons with disabilities is constitutionally guaranteed and should not be treated as an act of charity.
“Employment for persons with disabilities is not charity; it is a right enshrined in Article 29 of the 1992 Constitution and reinforced by the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), which mandates accessibility and equal employment opportunities.” He stated.
He identified several challenges confronting persons with disabilities in the job market, including discrimination and negative societal attitudes, physical barriers within workplaces and public facilities, as well as gaps in education and skills development.
While acknowledging that years of advocacy have helped shift public perception and improve awareness about disability rights, Aniah Awine noted that significant work still remains to be done to achieve full inclusion.
He further encouraged persons with disabilities to remain proactive and contribute meaningfully to national development.
“We must discard the negative mindset that persons with disabilities have nothing to offer. Whether as nurses, teachers, lawyers, or professionals in other fields, persons with disabilities are capable of contributing to national development when given the necessary support.” He added.
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