Unemployed graduates with disabilities issue March 24 protest ultimatum to government

A coalition of unemployed graduates with disabilities has issued a stark warning to the government, threatening to hold a nationwide demonstration on March 24 if authorities fail to provide a clear and actionable plan to address their employment crisis.

The ultimatum follows a one-month deadline set on February 9, which the group says expired without any concrete response from the government regarding their long-standing grievances.

Speaking at a press conference, Princess Mensah, a spokesperson for the coalition, highlighted the persistent systemic barriers that exclude qualified persons with disabilities (PWDs) from the workforce despite their educational achievements.

“Despite our qualifications and readiness to serve, we continue to face systemic barriers that prevent us from accessing meaningful employment,” Mensah stated.

The group anchored its demands in data and existing legislation. Mensah cited the 2021 Population and Housing Census, which indicates that approximately 8 per cent of Ghana’s population—roughly 2.1 million people—live with some form of disability. Despite these numbers, unemployment rates within the disability community remain significantly higher than the national average.

The coalition further invoked the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2006 (Act 715), which mandates the establishment of employment support structures and provides incentives for employers who hire PWDs. The graduates argue that the failure to implement these provisions leaves them marginalized, effectively punishing them despite their qualifications.

Echoing these sentiments, Dr. Felix Obeng Asamoah, Executive Director of the Ghana Blind Union, emphasized that PWDs are capable citizens who are ready to contribute to national development if given the chance.

“We are all potential assets, and all we are asking for is an opportunity to prove that we are assets,” Dr. Asamoah said.

The coalition has reiterated its commitment to peaceful advocacy. However, leaders stressed that the March 24 protest will proceed as planned if the government fails to present a workable roadmap for integrating them into the economy.