A coalition of unemployed tertiary graduates with disabilities has given the Government of Ghana a one-month ultimatum to present a concrete employment plan or face nationwide protests.
In a press statement issued on Monday, February 9, 2026, the Coalition of Unemployed Tertiary Graduates with Disabilities expressed frustration over what it described as years of neglect and exclusion from the formal job market, despite being qualified and certified by various tertiary institutions.
The group said hundreds of graduates with disabilities have remained unemployed for over six years, forcing many into poverty, the informal sector, or street begging, even though persons with disabilities make up about eight per cent of Ghana’s population.
Citing labour data, the coalition noted that while the national unemployment rate stands at about 13 per cent, unemployment among persons with disabilities in the formal sector is nearly double, with only about 27 per cent of working-age persons with disabilities gainfully employed.
The coalition accused the government of failing to enforce the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), particularly provisions on employment, and called for the immediate implementation of a five per cent employment quota for persons with disabilities, as earlier promised by President John Dramani Mahama.
Convener of the group, Gilbert Boateng Agyare, said they are not seeking charity but demanding their right to work, stressing that continued inaction will compel them to demonstrate across the country.
The coalition warned that if the government fails to respond within one month with a clear and actionable employment roadmap, its members from all 16 regions will stage mass protests to demand inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity.
Read the statement below:
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE, MONDAY FEBRUARY 9, 2026.
UNEMPLOYED GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES ISSUE ONE-MONTH ULTIMATUM TO GOVERNMENT
We, the Coalition of Unemployed Tertiary Graduates with Disabilities, are issuing this formal press statement to express our utter disappointment, frustration, and rising anger at the Government of Ghana’s systemic neglect of our right to work and dignity.
For over six years now, hundreds of us qualified, skilled, and certified by various tertiary institutions across the country have been left to languish in poverty at home. We have fulfilled our part of the social contract by acquiring higher education, often at great personal and financial sacrifices.
Yet, the State has turned its back on us, leaving us to survive on the fringes of a society we are ready to build.
The Grim Reality is that the current state of inclusion in Ghana is not just disappointing and disturbing but rather a flagrant violation and an abridgement of our fundamental human rights. Based on the 2021 Population and Housing Census and recent 2025 labor data, Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) make up approximately 8% of Ghana’s population, representing over 2.1 million people.
While the national unemployment rate hovers around 13%, the unemployment rate for PWDs in the formal sector is nearly double the national average.
In Ghana, only about 27% of PWDs of working age are gainfully employed, compared to over 56% of persons without disabilities.
The vast majority of PWDs are pushed into the informal sector or forced into street begging, despite holding degrees in Education, Law, Administration, and Information Technology.
The United Nations, through the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD)—which Ghana has ratified and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 8), demands that member states ensure PWDs have access to “open, inclusive, and accessible” labor markets.
The UN and International Labour Organization (ILO) standards emphasize that governments should implement quota schemes (often recommending that PWDs occupy between 2% to 5% of the workforce in both public and private sectors) to ensure equitable representation. The Government of Ghana has failed to enforce even the basic provisions of our own Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715 when it comes to the issues of employment).
Recently, at the launch of the free tertiary Education for persons with Disabilities policy, His Excellency the President of the republic, John Dramani Mahama stated pellucidly that he was going to implement a 5% quota employment policy for persons with disabilities across the country in all public and private sector recruitment and also incentivize private companies willing to hire the service of persons with Disabilities.
We are not asking for charity; we are demanding our right to work. We have been “educated for the shelf for too long.
We demand an immediate roadmap for the recruitment of the current backlog of unemployed tertiary-educated PWDs into the public sector.
We demand the full implementation of employment quotas in all government agencies and incentives for private companies that hire PWDs.
We demand an end to the systemic barriers during recruitment processes that favor able-bodied individuals overqualified PWDs.
We hereby give the Government of Ghana a one-month ultimatum from today to respond to our plight with a concrete, actionable employment plan.
Failure to act will leave us with no choice but to hit the streets in our numbers. We will mobilize our members from all sixteen regions, with our wheelchairs, our white canes, and our crutches, to occupy the seats of power until our voices are heard. We will demonstrate against the State’s blatant disregard for our lives and our futures.
We are of the conviction that the current challenge plaguing us is not one which is intractable or insurmountable for government to solve if the political will is there.
We wish to indicate that a plethora of our people have been commuting from their hometowns to Accra to engage the various ministries that can resolve the issues at hand, but all our efforts have unfortunately proven futile.
As a country that frowns on seeing the vulnerable begging for alms on the streets, we must rather ameliorate such people from their destitutions instead of making them more marginalized every day to feed on the crumbs of politicians.
It remains an indubitable or incontrovertible truth that issues of disability in this country have been swept under the carpet, but we are of the conviction that it is about time that we rose against such ignominious treatment given to such people in this country.
Persons with disability in this country have been languished to struggle on their own to survive without any clear policies to alleviate the predicaments faced by us.
The impediments in our path are too much to the extent that we are not considered by government in any decision made by the government.
These challenges hamper our progress as humans since we compete with the abled bodied persons for everything.
But we wish to assert that disability is no respecter of persons so we should be guided as a country through our actions by creating an inclusive environment for all without any semblance of discrimination and segregation against the disabled.
As a country that tout itself with an accolade of being the beacon of democracy in Africa, our attitude towards the disabled has not been the best at all as we continue to create excruciating pains for such people in everything we do.
Finally, we will elicit an unflinching support from the media and the general public to implore the government to do the needful for peace to prevail.
Thank you.
SIGNED:
GILBERT BOATENG AGYARE
CONVENER OF THE GROUP
0244061940.
The following leaders may be contacted for interviews and more clarifications by the media
- Baah Felix – 0544295020
- Gilbert Boateng Agyare – 0244061940.
- Takyi Augustine – 0551393853
- Habib Augustine K. A. – 0248503773
- Awoe Emmanuel – 0546594198.
- Arther Dede Alberta – 0552695654  
Coalition of Unemployed Tertiary Graduates with Disabilities
Please find attached a portion of the list of people who are affected by this unfortunate situation for your consideration.
The list constitutes details of their names, type of impairment, year of completion and the school attended.
LIST OF UNEMPLOYED TERTIARY GRADUATES WITH DISABILITIES
NO. NAME INSTITUTION ATTENDED YEAR
COMPLETED TYPE OF DISABILITY
- Jonathan Atta Kakra Yorke Koforidua Polytechnic 2007 Visual Impairment
- Walter Komla Gomashie Evangelical Presbyterian University College, Ho 2011 Albinism
- Emmanuel Asibey Osei School of Social Work 2012 Visual Impairment
- Stephen Mensah Amoh Kumasi Technical University 2013 Physical Disability
- Titriku Akosua Rejoice University of Education, Winneba 2013 Physical Disability
- Emmanuel Kwesi Cole University of Cape Coast 2014 Visual Impairment
- Gloria Pokua Annancy Central University 2014 Visual Impairment
- Yakub Issahaque University For Development Studies 2014 Physical Disability
- Faisal Sey IPMC University College 2015 Physical Dis
- Monica Boateng Dedaa UCC 2016 Physical Disability
- Faisal Abubakar Vocational 2017 Visual Impairment
- Felix Selase Dovi University of professional studies Accra 2017 Visual Impairment
- Georgina Mills Addo University of Education, Winneba 2017 Hearing Impairment
- Gifty Teni Salibga Koforidua Technical University 2017 Hearing Impairment
- Mohammed Salihu Adnan University of Cape Coast (UCC) 2017 Physical Disability
- Zenabu Belbah University of Cape Coast 2017 Physical Disability
- Delali Josephine Kuwornu University of Education Winneba 2018 Physical Disability
- Fatima Amadu University of Education 2018 Hearing Impairment
- Isaac Asirifi University of Cape Coast 2018 Amputee in right leg
- Shadrack Ndibagen University Of Education, Winneba 2018 Visual Impairment
- Sylvester Agyemang Atta University of Education, Winneba, Ghana 2018 Hearing Impairment
- Abu Ayishetu New life college 2019 Physical Disability
- Ali Male Ibrahim University of Education 2019 Visual Impairment
- Ayishetu Mohadi Maliku University of education Winneba – kumasi campus 2019 Physical Disability
- Cosmos Quenin Opoku University of Education, Winneba 2019 Visually Impaired with hearing challenge
- Evans Acheampong University of Education, Winneba 2019 Visual Impairment
- Habiba Kantunsung Jackson college of education 2019 Physical challenge
- Yahaya Bayi Ghana Institute of Journalism 2019 Person with albinism
- Apuga Sampson University of Education, Winneba 2020 Visual Impairment
- Bonnah Kwasi Stephen University of Education, Winneba 2020 Visual Impairment
- Kenneth Mawutor Gakpetor Evangelical Presbyterian University College 2020 Physical Disability
- Martha Frimpong University of Education, Winneba 2020 Visual Impairment
- Sudais Abubakar Mohammed Garden City University 2020 Physical Disability
- Maxwell Turkson University of Education, Winneba 2021 Visual Impairment
- Norbert Dawono University of Education, Winneba 2021 Visual Impairment
- Placidio Gume University of Education, Winneba 2021 Physical Disability
- Rita Naa Okaikor Ayi-Bonte Wisconsin International University College 2021 Stammering
- Abubakakari Zakaria Tamale Technical University and New Life College, Tamale 2021 Physical Disability
- Abdul-Rahman Estandaru University For Development Studies 2022 Physical Disability
- Albert Anakwa Coffie University of Education, Winneba 2022 Hearing Impairment
- Bernice Adjoa Eshun University of Cape Coast 2022 Visual Impairment
- Bismark Bosomprah University of Education, Winneba 2022 Visual Impairment
- Cecilia Saamporibo University of Education, winneba 2022 Visual Impairment
- Elvis Boateng Jackson College of Education 2022 Physical Disability
- Farhan Alhassan Shaibu University of Ghana, Legon 2022 Visual Impairment
- Godsway Kekeli Tamakloe University of Education, Winneba 2022 Visual Impairment
- Hamdan Alidu University of Education, Winneba 2022 Deaf
- Hoenyedzi mensah Alphonsus University of Education, winneba 2022 Hearing Impairment
- Ruth Asare Koforidua Technical University 2022 Hearing Impairment
- Frank Kwaku Yeboah University of Ghana 2023 Visual Impairment
- Sidu Latifa Kantong University of Education, Winneba 2022 Visual Impairment
- Ziinkow Bertha University of Education, Winneba 2022 Visual Impairment
- Abdul-Majeed Alhassan University of Education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Theodora Kissiwa University of Cape Coast 2023 Physical Disability
- Adam Rasheed Abdul Koforidua Technical university 2023 Deaf
- Albert Anakwa Coffie University of Education, winneba 2023 Hearing Impairment
- Alberta Dede Narther University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Alhassan Abdul-Majeed University of education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Atinga Ayinpoka Mavis University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Batadiniah Asoawe Eric University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Benjamin Kyere University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Benjamin Mensah University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Boniretey Jorbontey University of Cape coast, UCC 2023 Physical Disability
- Bright Wireko Ampong Kwame nkrumah university of science and technology 2023 Physical Disability
- David Mort Akoliga University of Cape Coast 2023 Visual Impairment
- Elikem Yaw Attipoe University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Ellen Bempah Owusu University of education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Emmanuel Awoe University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Emmanuel Kwabena Akonsi University of education, Winneba 2023 Hearing Impairment
- Enyonam Destiny Lavoe University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Eric Kwesi Asare University of Education, Winneba 2023 Hearing Impairment
- Ewura Dari Malik University of education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Francis Suma University for Development Studies (UDS Tamale ) 2023 Physical Disability
- Fuseini Yakubu University of education winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Habib Augustine Kurawura Alankpari University of cape coast UCC 2023 Visual Impairment
- Hassan Yakubu University of education Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Iddrisu Abdul Hanan University of education, Winneba 2023 Hearing Impairment
- Ishmael Edem Adevu University of education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Jeffery Addo University of Ghana, Legon 2023 Visual Impairment
- Jonas Adjetey University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Joyce Asantewaa University of Education,Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Lennox Alalek University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Meshack Azaanga Amobire University of Education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Mispa Odame University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Moses Azumah Nelson University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Muhammad Mubarak University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Nsungar Alice Bipee University for development studies 2023 Albinism
- Prince Adjei Otsiwah University of Ghana 2023 Visual Impairment
- Rebecca Agbagah University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Richard Nsoh Avebire University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Sabratu Avoye Imoro St John Bosco College of Education 2023 Physical Disability
- Sarfo Hienno Aikins University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Selorm Adrah-Hormeku University of Ghana 2023 Dwarfism
- Shadrach Kwame Norvinyo University college of agriculture and environmental studies 2023 Physical Disability
- Stephen Dankwa University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Suma Francis University for Development Studies 2023 Physical Disability
- Sylvester Acquah University of Ghana 2023 Visual Impairment
- Thomas Kwame Kwaa University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Veronica Amuzu University of Cape Coast 2023 Visual Impairment
- Veronica Segbornya Amegakpui University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Yakubu Hassan University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Mohammed No Iddrisu University of Education Winneba-Ajumako 2023 Visual Impairment
- Alhassan Habibata University of education, Winneba 2023 Visual Impairment
- Hamdan Alidu University of Education, Winneba (Distance) 2023 Hearing Impairment
- Abraham Abugbilla Abugri University of education, Winneba 2023 Physical Disability
- Abdul Mumin University of cape coast 2024 Physical Disability
- Abdul Rashid Suleymana Kessben university college 2024 Visual Impairment
- Abdulai Widraogo Nuhu University of Ghana 2024 Visual Impairment
- Abdul-Kudus Basin Tahiru University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Abdul-Razak Osman University for Development Studies 2024 Physical Disability
- Abigail Agyemang University of cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Aboagye Okyere Mensah AAMUSTED, Kumasi campus 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Adu Emmanuel University of Ghana 2024 Visual Impairment
- Amos Awuku University of cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Antwi Ellias University of education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Asumah Zoromi Abdul- Rashid BAGABAGA COLLEGE OF EDUCATION TAMALE 2024 Physical Disability
- Atanga Assibi Janet University of Education Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Atta Silas Mensah University of education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Augustina Kpipien University of Cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Bridget Abla Honu University of Education,winneba 2024 Physical Disability
- Catherine Anim-Larbi University of Education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Catherine Yaa Akenten Appiah-Menka University of Skills Training and Entrepreneurial Development 2024 DeafBlindness
- Catherine Adjeley Nonom University of Ghana legon 2024 Visual Impairment
- Cletus Naah Boorsong University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- David Nunyala Duodu University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Ephraim Ayeh Oracca-Tetteh University of Ghana 2024 Visual Impairment
- Eric Owusu Afriyie University of Education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Fatima Owusuaa University of cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Foster Abariche University of Cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Godwin Edudzi Bleboo University of Education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Ibrahim Hamidu University of education, winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Ibrahim Yahaya University of Cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Iddrisu Nashiru University of education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Isaac Obeng University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Jenita Sommah Anafo Nusrat Jahan Ahmadiyya college 2024 Visual Impairment
- Kunugbe None Rosemary UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA 2024 Physical Disability
- Kyeraa Hannah AAmusted- kumasi 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Lateef Abdullahi Alhassan University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Mariam Shuaib University of Cape Coast 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Martha Ayorkor Ashong University of Cape coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Martha Kangmenang Seidu Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies-(SDD-UBIDS) 2024 Physical Disability
- Matilda Dankwah Akenten appiah-Menka university of skills training and entrepreneurial development (AAMUSTED) 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Mavis Teiko Aminatey University of Ghana 2024 Physical Disability
- Michael Annorhene Frimpong University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Mohammed Sabasa Umar University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Nancy Adompoka Akurigya UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION, WINNEBA 2024 Visual Impairment
- Paul Ayaba Asiawon University of education, Winneba 2024 Physical Disability
- Peace Awadzi University of Education,Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Rashida Kumih University of Cape coast 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Richard Kwadwo Glakpeh University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Rolanda Wewobong University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Samsideen Gbana Mohammed. Bukari University of education UEW. 2024 Visual Impairment
- Takyi Augustine AAMUSTED 2024 Physical Disability
- Zenabu Hudu University of education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Ansah Emmanuel AKENTEN APPIAH-MENKA UNIVERSITY OF SKILLs TRANING AND ENTREPRENEURIAL DEVELOPMENT 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Samuel Asante University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- mensah benjamin University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Febian Maanneakpeng Sotenga University of Cape Coast 2024 Visual Impairment
- Iddrisu Abdul Hanan University of education, Winneba 2024 Hearing Impairment
- Nahima Issahak Issahak University of education, Winneba 2024 Visual Impairment
- Abdul Basit Osman University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa Ghana 2025 Physical Disability
- Awal Wumbei Iddrisu University of Education, Winneba 2025 Physical Disability
- Didongo Raymond University of education, Winneba 2025 Visual Impairment
- Francis Kutom UDS 2025 Physical Disability
- Godfred Aming Atoosiko University of Cape coast (UCC) 2025 Physical Disability
- Kwabena Bediako Kyere University of Cape Coast 2025 Physical Disability
- Lamor Augustine Nkoranza technical Institute 2025 Physical Disability
- Monica Boateng Dedaa UCC 2025 Physical Disability
- Nicholas Akorligah Kwofie University of Ghana 2025 Visual Impairment
- Sakina Barson University of education, Winneba 2025 Physical Disability
- Seth Doetse University of education, winneba 2025 Hearing Impairment
- stephen Adonu Adonu Technical university 2025 Hearing Impairment
- Sylvester Agyemang Atta University of education, Winneba 2025 Hearing Impairment
- Adongo Bilitor Isaiah Isaiah LPMV &Gbewaa college of Education 2025 Albinism
- Iddrisu Zuleiha Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies (SDD-UBIDS) 2025 Visual Impairment
