Empowering inclusivity – The Career Fair for Persons Living with Disability

The 2024 Career Fair for Persons with Disability in Ghana has been held in Accra to advocate for disability inclusion in the world of work. Organised by Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC in cooperation with the Ghana Federation for Disability Organizations (GFD) and other national and international partners, the Career Fair provided a platform for candidates to connect with employers who are committed to creating inclusive work environments.

Involved in this collaborative effort is the British High Commission, British Council, Altruistic Foundation, United Nations Ghana, Promoting Equal Rights for Women and Girls with Disabilities in Ghana (PERD), Orica West Africa, Sightsavers, UKGCC and the Multimedia Group.

There is a growing recognition of the importance of inclusivity and diversity in the workplace and this calls for concerted and intentional efforts to remove barriers that impede disability inclusion and the full and equal participation of persons with disabilities in the workspace.

Mansa Nettey, CEO, Standard Chartered in her opening remarks, reiterated the Bank’s commitment to building sustainable and inclusive communities. She stated the importance of building an environment in the workplace where everyone with the capacity to excel can do so. “We continue to engage persons with disability and ensure that our recruitment processes do not exclude qualified persons because of their challenge. We also ensure the workplace is disability friendly providing a conducive environment to thrive and grow.”

Speaking at the Fair on behalf of the British High Commission, Enyonam Azumah, talked about FCDO’s Disability Inclusion and Rights Strategy (2022-2030). A plan that upholds the UK's strong commitment to inclusion, emphasizing the importance of giving people with disabilities a greater voice, better opportunities, and more visibility to deliver a safer, more equitable and prosperous world where all individuals can fulfil their potential.

There is data to indicate that the unemployment rate for people with disabilities is caused by some employers' unfavourable attitudes toward employees with disabilities, which typically results from their lack of understanding of their potential. The GFD stated that persons living with disability are equally qualified for the job market. They expressed their appreciation to the partners for the Career Fair and shared the impact over the year.

A boot camp was held prior to the Career Fair for more than 50 persons living with disability. The session engaged the candidates and explored the techniques for job hunt and the job market. The new addition to this year’s session was the entrepreneurial session, on how to successfully manage a business, touching on budgeting, inventory management and business planning.

To wrap up the Career Fair, Winston Amoah from the Multimedia Group moderated a panel session on “Sharing best practices on PWD employment”. The panel included Richard Ofei (Founder of the Ghana Disability Dream Development Foundation (GFFFD), Samson Deen (President of the Africa Paralympic Committee) and Nii Doodo Dodoo (British Council).

The Career Fair plays a vital role in advancing inclusivity in the workforce by connecting individuals with disabilities to employment opportunities and empowering companies to build more diverse and inclusive workplaces. It also aligns with the United Nations Disability Inclusion Strategy which promotes disability inclusion as a human right, and a business imperative and the right and smart thing to do.