Majority Leader Mahama Ayariga has called for legislation to compel institutions, factories, and government agencies to reserve a quota of jobs for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), arguing that such a move is necessary to promote inclusion and address unemployment among the group.
Contributing to a statement on the floor of Parliament on Tuesday, June 23, Mr. Ayariga stressed the need for deliberate national policies to ensure greater participation of PWDs in the formal workforce.
He expressed concern over the number of persons with disabilities who are forced to rely on street begging for survival, describing the situation as unacceptable.
“We as a country must consider it a major national embarrassment when our colleagues have to earn their living at traffic lights begging,” he said.
According to the Majority Leader, Parliament should consider passing legislation that would require both public and private institutions to reserve a percentage of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities, similar to ongoing efforts to promote gender representation.
“As a Parliament, we must enact legislation which will compel a quota in every factory, organisation and institution. Just as we are enacting quotas for gender, we must also enact quotas for disabled persons,” he stated.
Mr. Ayariga rejected the notion that persons with disabilities lack the capacity to contribute meaningfully to the workforce, insisting that many possess the qualifications and skills needed to excel in various sectors.
“Invariably, there is no way you won’t find a disabled person who is qualified on his or her own to be employed in a factory,” he added.
Beyond employment, he also urged political parties to adopt measures that would increase the participation of persons with disabilities in elective politics.
He encouraged political parties to create internal quotas to support qualified PWDs to contest parliamentary elections and contribute to national decision-making.
“Political parties as well must make an effort to field a number of disabled persons so that they can also come to Parliament,” he said.
Mr. Ayariga maintained that improving access to employment and political representation for persons with disabilities would help build a more inclusive society and ensure equal opportunities for all citizens to contribute to national development.
