A coalition of unemployed tertiary graduates with disabilities has issued a one-month ultimatum to the Government of Ghana, demanding immediate action to address what they describe as years of systemic neglect, exclusion, and denial of their right to work.

In a press statement released on Monday, February 9, 2026, the Coalition of Unemployed Tertiary Graduates with Disabilities expressed deep frustration over what it called the government’s failure to provide employment opportunities for qualified Persons with Disabilities (PWDs), despite existing national laws and international commitments.

According to the coalition, hundreds of graduates with disabilities, who have obtained degrees in fields such as Education, Law, Administration, and Information Technology, have remained unemployed for over six years after completing tertiary education.

“We are not asking for charity; we are demanding our right to work.

We have been educated for the shelf for too long,” the statement said.

The group cited data from the 2021 Population and Housing Census and recent 2025 labour statistics, indicating that PWDs make up about 8 percent of Ghana’s population, representing more than 2.1 million people.

While the national unemployment rate stands at approximately 13 percent, unemployment among Persons With Disabilities in the formal sector is nearly double that figure.

The coalition further noted that only about 27 percent of working-age PWDs are gainfully employed, compared to over 56 percent of persons without disabilities, forcing many educated PWDs into informal work or street begging.

The group accused the government of failing to enforce the Persons with Disability Act, 2006 (Act 715), particularly its provisions on employment.

They also referenced Ghana’s obligations under the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD) and Sustainable Development Goal 8, which call for inclusive and accessible labour markets.

The coalition recalled recent comments by President John Dramani Mahama at the launch of the Free Tertiary Education for Persons with Disabilities policy, where he announced plans to implement a 5 percent employment quota for PWDs in both public and private sector recruitment, alongside incentives for private companies.

Among their key demands, the group is calling for:

• An immediate roadmap to recruit the backlog of unemployed tertiary-educated PWDs into the public sector;

• Full enforcement of employment quota policies across all government agencies;

• Incentives for private sector employers who recruit persons with disabilities; and

• The removal of discriminatory recruitment barriers that disadvantage qualified PWDs.

The coalition warned that failure by the government to present a concrete and actionable employment plan within one month would result in nationwide protests.

“We will mobilise our members from all sixteen regions, with our wheelchairs, white canes, and crutches, to occupy the seats of power until our voices are heard,” the statement cautioned.

The group stressed that the unemployment crisis facing persons with disabilities is not insurmountable, insisting that political will remains the missing link.

They also lamented unsuccessful attempts to engage relevant ministries in Accra, despite repeated visits by members.

The coalition concluded by urging the state to move beyond rhetoric and tokenism, warning that continued neglect would further marginalise persons with disabilities and undermine Ghana’s commitment to inclusive development.