The Minister of Gender, Children, and Social Protection, Ms. Lariba Zuweria Abudu, on Tuesday, August 2, announced that the Ministry is currently in the process of amending the Persons with Disability Act 2006 (Act 715) to align it with the United Nations (UN) Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.

The main goal of this amendment is to promote, protect, and ensure the full and equal enjoyment of all human rights and fundamental freedoms for individuals with disabilities. These rights encompass education, health, employment, and accessible transportation.

One of the key proposals in the reviewed Act is to grant tax exemptions to employers who hire persons with disabilities and provide training opportunities for unemployed PWDs. This measure aims to increase the employment rate of disabled individuals and create more inclusive workplaces.

Ms. Abudu made this statement during her parliamentary session, responding to a question raised by Mr. Mohmmed Adamu Ramadan, a National Democratic Congress (NDC) MP for Adentan, on behalf of Mr. Francis-Xavier Kojo Sosu, the NDC MP for Madina.

Mr. Adamu Ramadan inquired about the strategies in place to enhance the employment of PWDs in line with Sustainable Development Goals Eight and 10.

The Ministry has also collaborated in the development of the Employment Equity Policy by the Ministry of Employment and Labour Relations.

The aim of this policy is to foster equitable employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities, particularly in the public service and the broader labor market.

Sustainable Development Goal Eight focuses on promoting inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment, and decent work for all.

On the other hand, Goal 10 aims to reduce inequalities in income and opportunities based on factors such as age, sex, disability, race, ethnicity, origin, religion, or economic status within a country. It also addresses inequalities among countries, including representation, migration, and development assistance.

These Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are a set of 17 interconnected objectives introduced by the UN in 2015 as a universal blueprint for fostering peace and prosperity for people and the planet, both now and in the future.