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About 220 persons with hearing impairment are to benefit from a four-month skill training project in garment manufacturing to enable them to become self-reliance upon completion.
It is under the sponsorship of the German Development Cooperation (GIZ), in partnership with Do the Right Thing Apparel (DTRT) and the Ghana National Association of the Deaf (GNAD).
The project launched in Accra on Friday is expected to ensure that beneficiaries acquired decent skills in the area of entrepreneurship to curtail the increasing unemployment issues in the country.
The Team Leader for the Invest for Jobs programme at GIZ Ghana, Mr John Duti, underscored the significance of inclusive development, stating that despite the challenges of Persons with Disabilities (PWD), some could acquire handy skills.
He reaffirmed that the programme, implemented by GIZ and funded through taxpayer contributions from both Germany and Ghana, aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially on decent work and reducing inequalities.
Mr Duti praised DTRT Apparel and GNAD for their long-standing commitment to disability inclusion, saying the initiative responded to systemic exclusion while advancing national and international objectives for inclusive growth.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of DTRT Apparel Group, Mr Wiesenthal Perera, reiterated the company’s commitment to an inclusive workforce, as he recounted how the journey began two years ago with the recruitment of 40 deaf employees, driven by the principle that disability did not define an individual’s potential.
“We do not want to use the word ‘disabled’ anymore. That was one of our founding values. Everyone has abilities, and we believe we can not leave behind our deaf associates,” he stated.
He expressed appreciation to GIZ for offering to scale up the project, despite DTRT initially not having a comprehensive plan to recruit more than 200 persons.
“This partnership opens a new chapter, not only for DTRT but for the country,” Mr Perera said.
Mr Kubacha, representing the International Association of the Deaf, described the initiative as transformative.
“This is a powerful statement of inclusion. It offers our members a pathway to decent jobs and national contribution,” he said.
He pledged GNAD’s full cooperation for the successful implementation of the project that he said was a shared vision of empowerment and dignity for the deaf community.
The Managing Director of Do the Right Thing (DTRT) Apparel, Mrs Salma Salifu, reaffirmed the company’s commitment to equality and respect for all workers.
She stressed that every individual had a purpose and must be treated with dignity, regardless of physical challenges.
“We don’t believe in the word disabled as everyone has unique ways of expressing themselves,” she stated.
She assured development partners of DTRT’s continued support for persons with hearing impairments, providing meals, transport, and equal opportunities as the company expands its inclusive workforce
