Document issued on poverty reduction

Ho, Sept. 14, GNA - The present poverty reduction strategy that treats persons with disability as a "vulnerable group" is unlikely to achieve its goal of raising their living standards, according to a Decent Work Pilot Programme Workshop document issued at the weekend in Ho.

It said any strategy must recognise that persons with disabilities have the same needs as others, but in addition, some specific needs depending on the nature of their disability.

The document signed by Mr. John Yaw Amankrah, Director Research Statistics and Vocational Training of the Ministry of Manpower Development and Employment (MMDE) said the majority of the disabled "want to and can do productive work provided their specific needs such as mobility or hearing aids are taken care of".

The five-day workshop, held in Ho was organised by the International Labour organisation (ILO).

The 35 participants were drawn from district assemblies, small and micro industrial sector and Association of the Disabled.

The document noted that to achieve the inclusion of persons with disabilities into wealth creation through productive and gainful employment, they must be integrated into the mainstream policies, programmes and institutions of education, vocational training, employment and public works, among others.

It conceded that "integration does not come easy" but added that the Department of Social Welfare was designing a programme to promote and implement the national disability policy at all levels.

The department is also formulating a proposal for a more effective strategy to include persons with disability into the economy and society, to be considered in the review of the poverty strategy. The Decent Work Pilot Programme was launched early this year to bring together the MMDE and trade unions to contribute to poverty reduction particularly in the informal sector.