Barriers facing disables in getting jobs in Ghana : quality of life situation

Abstract Discrimination against persons with disabilities the world over in the realm of employment has been a real problem especially in developing countries such as Ghana, where there are no enough government incentives to help cushion the bad effects of unemployment and redundancy on the disabled. Negative perceptions suggesting that disability means incapability are rife and thus prevents the disabled from getting a job or rendering those who have jobs and became disabled through no faults of theirs' redundant. The disabled in Ghana, thus, can only make ends meet by resorting to begging on the streets, or engaging in some vocations. The few of them who are in employment face problems such as infrastructural deficiencies like the absence of adaptive aides to help them move around easily, for instance, the absence of elevators in storey buildings. Those in some vocations on their own suffer financial problems and hence cannot expand their ventures to the levels that can help them cater for their needs. Most of them are very poor and dependent on family and friends for survival. Laws made to safeguard their rights are not enforced. Ghana is not only a party to the ratification of the UN Declaration on the Rights of the Disabled, they have a Persons with Disability Act (Act 715 of 2006), but the situation is no better. This research aimed at exploring the difficulties faced by the disabled people in Ghana in terms of getting a job. Interview was set and qualitative method of study is applied to elicit authentic information from the informants who are graduates, vocational trained and illiterates, but are jobless. The study took place in Accra the capital of Ghana. Among other questions, the research found out how the disabled feels without a job and whether or not they would like to be employed. Twelve disabled (9 males and 3 females) were interviewed for this study. Informants chosen were the blind and physically challenged. All informants, but one wanted to work but they revealed "barriers" that prevents them from achieving that aim. Among some of the barriers were non-enforcement of existing laws that safeguard rights of the disabled; stereotyping and discrimination against persons with disabilities; and lack of capital to start businesses. Stemming the tides, it is expected of the government and various stakeholders to sensitize the population on the rights and capabilities of the disabled so as to reduce or eliminate the discrimination against them, as well as provide financial support and credit to those who wanted to start their own businesses. The findings confirm the Brown (1997) theory of well-beings and quality of life. The informants think or feel that lack of awareness and understanding of the appropriate laws, incentives and cultural rigidity are major sources of problem. If such barriers are removed they are going to enjoy a better life