The programme follows the rehabilitation and completion of about 52 training centres spread across regional and district capitals of the country and furnished with state-of-the-art training equipment.
The programme, which is being implemented by rlg Communications, in collaboration with the Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare, is aimed at equipping Persons Living with Disabilities with the employable ICT skills to compete in the ICT job market in the country.
In Ghana, it is estimated that Persons Living With Disabilities (PWDs) number about 4.3 million, constituting a commanding 20 percent of the national population, but the majority of this group have often been limited to low skilled jobs, with others parading the streets as beggars.
Vice President John Dramani Mahama, who took a tour of some of the facilities in Accra yesterday, noted that the initiative forms part of measures to find a sustainable way to improve the living conditions of PWDs, with changing global trends driven by technology.
He emphasized that the project was aimed at adding value to the lives of the trainees under the project, and also serve as a paradigm shift from long-held notions that PWDs are only good for low-skilled vocations, such as such those existing in the craft industry in the country.
The programme, according to the Vice President, will be expanded to absorb a total of 20,000 people by next year. He also called for an end to discrimination against PWDs in the various public and private institutions in the country.
"Discrimination against persons with disabilities is unacceptable, illegal, immoral and criminal," he emphasized.
According to the Veep, PWDs must be accorded due respect in society and given equal opportunities just as able people.
He indicated further that research indicates that the productivity of PWDs in the job market are higher than the able bodied persons, and he thus charged all persons with disability to make themselves productive in society.
He, however, congratulated rlg and other indigenous Ghanaian enterprises in the country, who are creating employment opportunities in the county, promising them of government's support by creating the enabling environment for their businesses to flourish.
Mr. Roland Agambire, Chief Executive Officer of rlg Communications, emphasized the importance of ICT in the development of a country and job creation and thus encouraged PWDs to take advantage of the programme.
He reiterated that the importance of the project is to bring respite to persons with disabilities in the country, and changing their living conditions and their respective communities. "I personally believe in you and encourage you to take advantage of this programme" he noted.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Daniel Nonor
Quelle/Source: AllAfrica, 12.06.2012
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