Abak and Sight savers call for an end to discrimination against persons with disabilities.
ABAK Foundation with support from Sightsavers, Ghana has held a closing ceremony for trained Entrepreneurs and job seekers with Disabilities in Ghana.
It happened on Friday, 3rd May, 2024 at Tesano.
At the event, Country Representative for Sightsavers Ghana, Mr. David Agyemang appealed to religious organizations to stop discriminating against Persons With Disabilities.
He premised his call on the fact that religious heads sometimes make discriminatory comments that kill the spirit of Persons with Disabilities.
“How can a pastor or any religious leader stand before a congregation and boldly tell them to call on God to cripple or make blind their enemies.
Meanwhile in that same church or gathering, there are blind and persons in wheel chairs, “ he stated.
He made this statement at the training event.
The project brought together Persons with Disabilities across the country.
They were offered training on how to navigate their way through in their searches for job opportunities.
It also aimed at helping organizations to know and understand common tools that must be in place to be able to hire the services of Persons with Disabilities.
Mr. Agyeman indicated that research has disclosed that most employers don’t believe Persons with Disabilities can work effectively when given the opportunity “but that is false because they can equally perform better”.
He disclosed that there are Persons with Disabilities in Ghana who have higher educational qualifications and for that reason must be offered the chance to occupy high positions”.
At the event, he challenged participants to exercise confidence and believe in themselves that they can do it.
He also called on government to develop an employment equity policy that will see to the employment of Persons with Disabilities.
Mr. Agyeman again charged Parliament to speed-up the amendment of the Disability Act.
The Executive Director for ABAk Foundation-Ghana, Mr. Philip Duah said the workshop focused on preparing trainees on how to write CV, application letter, position themselves for a job interview and also empower those with micro businesses.
He indicated that since the beginning of the project 26 Persons with Disabilities have been enrolled into formal jobs with over 240 beneficiaries who are currently looking for formal jobs.
The 240 according to him are receiving mentorship training to enhance their CVs.
On her part, the Program Officer of Sightsavers, Mrs Beatrice Mamudu, called on all Ghanaians to avoid all forms of discrimination against Persons with disabilities since they also matter in society
