Unemployed Graduates with Disabilities Threaten Jubilee House Siege Over Broken Job Pledges

A coalition representing unemployed university graduates with disabilities has issued a firm two-week ultimatum to the Ghanaian government, demanding the immediate placement of its qualified members into public sector jobs or a secured financial clearance for their recruitment in the upcoming national budget. Failure to act, the group warns, will trigger an unrelenting three-day protest encampment at Jubilee House — the seat of Ghana's presidency.

Eight months of broken promises

The Coalition of Unemployed Graduates with Disabilities says it has spent the better part of the past eight months engaging government officials in good faith, only to be met with empty assurances and no concrete action. According to a press statement signed by Group Convener Gilbert Boateng Agyare, the coalition first demonstrated in March 2026, after which government representatives pledged to facilitate the employment of its qualified members in the public sector.

The group suspended that protest in trust, believing the commitments would be honoured. When nothing materialised, members organised a second demonstration. Officials then requested a comprehensive list of qualified graduates for consideration, which the coalition duly submitted. The group was subsequently told the list had been forwarded to the President — but weeks passed without any verifiable update or recruitment offer.

"Every single pledge made to this coalition over the past eight months has proven to be totally futile," the statement declared. The coalition further accused government representatives of engaging with protesters primarily to end demonstrations rather than to deliver on the substance of their promises. "We will no longer tolerate being used for photo opportunities or pacified by meaningless political rhetoric while qualified citizens with disabilities languish in enforced poverty and unemployment," it added.

What this means for Ghana

Ghana's disability community has long raised concerns about systemic exclusion from economic life, despite legal protections enshrined in the Persons with Disability Act. The situation confronting this coalition reflects a broader gap between legislation and lived reality. Many graduates with disabilities face compounded barriers — inaccessible campuses, non-inclusive workplaces, and employer prejudice — meaning that even those who successfully complete university education frequently find formal employment opportunities closed to them.

The coalition's members stress they are not seeking sympathy or charity. They point to the extraordinary personal effort it took to earn their qualifications — navigating staircases without ramps, sitting through lectures in non-inclusive halls, and defying societal expectations — as evidence of their determination and capability. "We demand opportunity, fairness, and justice," the statement said plainly.

If the government fails to respond within the stipulated period, a prolonged sit-in at Jubilee House could place additional political pressure on the administration and draw wider public scrutiny to its record on disability inclusion and public sector hiring. The coalition has stated unequivocally that it will not leave the gates of Jubilee House until every graduate on the submitted list receives a verifiable employment letter, and that it will not be moved by emergency meetings or verbal assurances alone.

Coalition calls on traditional, religious and civil society leaders

In a notable escalation of its campaign, the coalition has appealed to some of Ghana's most respected traditional and religious figures to intervene. It specifically named the Asantehene, Otumfuo Osei Tutu II; the Okyenhene, Osagyefo Amoatia Ofori Panin; and the Dormaahene, Oseadeeyo Agyeman Badu II, as well as the National House of Chiefs, urging them to use their moral authority to advocate on behalf of graduates with disabilities.

On the religious front, the group called on the National Chief Imam, Sheikh Osman Nuhu Sharubutu, the Christian Council of Ghana, the Ghana Catholic Bishops' Conference, and the National Peace Council to lend their voices to the cause. Former Vice-President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, the Council of State, and various civil society and governance watchdog organisations were also urged to support the campaign, with the coalition insisting that the welfare of persons with disabilities must rise above partisan politics.

• The coalition submitted a list of qualified graduates to the government weeks ago with no outcome.
• Members are demanding public sector jobs or budget clearance within two weeks.
• A three-day continuous Jubilee House protest will follow if demands are unmet.