The Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, has assured unemployed graduates with disabilities that the government is committed to ensuring they are not left out of employment opportunities and national development.

Dr Lartey gave the assurance when she met leaders of a group of unemployed graduates with disabilities, led by Mr Gilbert Agyare, to discuss the employment challenges confronting persons with disabilities in Ghana.

Welcoming the delegation, the Minister said the engagement was part of ongoing consultations aimed at addressing unemployment among persons with disabilities, noting that the group was the third disability association she had met as part of the process.

She reaffirmed the Ministry’s readiness to listen to their concerns and to work collaboratively with stakeholders to develop inclusive and sustainable employment solutions.

Dr Lartey acknowledged that unemployment among graduates with disabilities remains a persistent national challenge and stressed the need for deliberate and targeted interventions to address the situation.

She assured the group that the Ministry would work closely with the National Council on Persons with Disabilities and other relevant institutions to strengthen data systems and develop a comprehensive database to support effective job placement.

The Minister further indicated that the Ministry would closely monitor the utilisation of funds allocated to persons with disabilities under the District Assemblies Common Fund, particularly for skills development, capacity building and enterprise support initiatives.

She also emphasised the importance of coordinated engagement among disability groups to ensure that interventions are evidence-based, measurable and impactful.

“I want to assure you that you will not be left behind. Government is committed to ensuring that persons with disabilities, including unemployed graduates, are meaningfully included in employment opportunities and national development efforts,” Dr Lartey said.

The Minister encouraged the group to collaborate with the Ministry and its agencies by providing detailed and accurate data that would help shape targeted employment interventions and sustainable support programmes.

The meeting was attended by the Executive Secretary of the National Council on Persons with Disabilities, Mr Edwin Kweku Andoh, and the Director of the Policy, Planning, Monitoring and Evaluation Directorate of the Ministry, Mrs Florence Ayisi Quartey.