Consider physically challenged persons in your recruitments – Accra Mayor to employers

The Accra Mayor, Mr Michael Kpakpo Allotey, has appealed to the corporate world and the business community to promote job creation and consider Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the youth for employment.

The Mayor urged them to promote social inclusion by deliberately reserving special job opportunities for qualified persons with disabilities, adding that accessibility to job opportunities will improve livelihoods and strengthen the local economy.

He made this call when he visited the Melcom Group of Companies, Royal Motors, M/S Thakar Overseas Limited, and Sigma Gas Company Limited to hold meetings on how to partner with the private sector to expand accessibility to decent jobs.

Mr Allotey said the visits formed part of the Assembly’s broader stakeholder engagement drive aimed at resolving development challenges through partnerships, while promoting job creation and more inclusive recruitment across industries.

The Managing Director of Melcom, Mr Ramesh Sadhwa, stated that the company currently employs about 6,000 Ghanaians nationwide and seeks to fill more than 100 vacant positions, adding that it is, however, struggling to recruit the skilled workers required for many of these roles.

He explained that the company had been recruiting for months for technical positions, including gas technicians, electricians, welders and plumbers, but continued to face a significant skills shortage.

He added that in its production operations, the company needed additional machine operators and other skilled staff, but many applications received did not meet the experience requirements.

The Managing Director indicated that the company’s reliance on specialised machinery made it difficult to take on applicants with no practical experience, noting that errors could damage expensive equipment and disrupt production.

He said Melcom had been running some operations on a 24-hour basis for years, and that staffing gaps persisted across sites.

To support workers and reduce commuting challenges, he said the company had provided dormitory accommodation for some staff and operated a subsidised canteen, adding that utilities such as water and electricity were covered by the company as part of its welfare support.