Workers with disabilities still face physical accessibility barriers in spite of the improvements that have been made over the past few years to integrate them fully into society.
Awareness has also steadily been created across the country on the need to think about Persons Living with Disabilities (PLWDs) when crafting social programmes or building infrastructure to embrace all manner of people.
Despite the growing awareness and improved societal attitudes toward disability in the country, PLWDs continue to suffer neglect when it comes to accessing even transportation or major public buildings.
If you are not a PLWD, imagine not being able to move around or commute on your own, not being able to board public transport, not being able to access public buildings or institutions for a service that you need, just because you cannot walk without the aid of a wheelchair or crutches.
How would you feel if you found yourself in such situations? Frustration and the lack of meaning to life itself would be your bosom friend.
Unfortunately, we have created a society where PLWDs must always depend on others to do basic things for them, and without such physical aid they feel hapless, helpless and useless.
Thankfully, a new report by the Trades Union Congress-Ghana (TUC) has highlighted the ongoing challenges faced by workers with disabilities due to poor physical accessibility in workplaces, which comes in handy in tackling this societal challenge.
The Workers with Disability Needs Assessment Report, launched in Accra recently, reveals that many employees with physical, visual and hearing impairments continue to struggle with basic access to facilities such as ramps, elevators and washrooms.
While some public sector workers reported limited support in acquiring assistive devices, many participants in the survey highlighted a critical lack of essential tools such as braille displays, screen reading software, wheelchairs and hearing aids — all of which are vital for job performance and independence.
We still have public washrooms which are not considerate of PLWDs, and so cannot be used by them.
We complain about PLWDs turning into beggars on the streets but discrimination remains a major barrier to employment and career advancement for individuals with disabilities; even those who have formal education (some to the tertiary level), and those with trades or talents they can live on.
To deal with these, the Daily Graphic supports the report’s call for a holistic approach that includes assistive technologies, on-site aids or interpreters, transportation support, and workplace adjustments to accommodate diverse needs.
We also support empowering employees through appropriate accommodation and a workplace culture that welcomes all.
If we think that the number of PLWDs or PWDs are a negligible or marginalised few, we would be up for a shock, as they make up about 8.6 per cent, or 2.1 million of the population of the country, and are, therefore, a vital part of the labour force who must be included in our plans.
While we hail the TUC for including the Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) as an associate member in 2023, thus demonstrating its strong commitment to inclusion, we urge the TUC to continue taking concrete steps to address the challenges PLWDs face in the country.
The TUC must push for the recommendations made in the report not only to be adopted, but followed through by the government to ensure true inclusivity.
We must ensure that gaps in both national laws and workplace support systems for persons with disabilities are properly sealed.
We need to acknowledge that PLWDs also have rights like any other groups of people that must be recognised, and as such their needs should be met by the government, organisations and individuals.
There must not be any barriers to accessing fair employment and exercising their rights in Ghana.
