Challenges associated with Vocational Rehabilitation for Persons with Disability in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana

Authors

  • Enoch Acheampong Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6306-4920
  • Godfred Atta-Osei Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
  • Alberta Nadutey Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
  • Peter Bredu-Darkwa Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
  • Gloria Boateng Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.47985/dcidj.416

Keywords:

Vocational rehabilitation, persons with disabilities

Abstract

Purpose: The study examined the challenges associated with vocational rehabilitation for persons with disabilities in the Kumasi metropolis of Ghana. It assessed the support available for vocational rehabilitation delivery centres and suggested measures that could ensure effective delivery of services to persons with disabilities.

Method: The study design was descriptive and qualitative. Purposive sampling was used to select 4 heads/managers and 11 tutors from four institutions offering vocational rehabilitation services for persons with disabilities. Interviews were conducted with the aid of semi-structured interview guides. Data was transcribed from audio-recordings and analysed using a thematic approach. The themes and codes are presented as findings and supported by quotes.

Results: The study revealed that the vocational rehabilitation centres in the Kumasi metropolis face challenges such as: insufficient finance, infrastructure deficits, inadequate teaching and learning materials, and stigmatisation of staff members.  To counter these, participants proposed: prompt payment of government grants, increasing staff motivation, improvement in infrastructure, provision of adequate tools and equipment for teaching, and posting of additional tutors.

Conclusion and Implications: The government of Ghana, through the Ministry of Education, must restore the goods and services grants, as well as administrative grants, and minimise delays in the release of funds. Non-governmental organisations that work towards funding disability-related activities should redirect their focus towards vocational rehabilitation for persons with disabilities.

Author Biographies

Enoch Acheampong, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Acheampong Enoch is a Lecturer at the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies, at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology. He has a Ph.D. in Public Health and is interested in disability research and healthcare access for marginalised groups espcially, individuals with disability. He is also interested in research on adolescent health, sexual and reproductive health for adolescents with disability.

Godfred Atta-Osei, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Godfred is pursuing his M.Phil in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi, Ghana. His area of research interest is educational rehabilitation for persons with disability. He also works as a Graduate Assistant at the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies.

Alberta Nadutey, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Alberta Nadutey has a M.Phil. degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi, Ghana. Her research interests are adolescents' health in general and sexual & reproductive health of adolescents with disability. She has published many peer-reviewed articles on disability-related issues.

 

Peter Bredu-Darkwa, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Peter is pursuing his M.Phil. degree in Disability, Rehabilitation and Development from the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi, Ghana. His research interests are physical therapy, educational rehabiliation and general healthcare research. He is a tutor at a Nursing training school in Accra, Ghana.

Gloria Boateng, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology

Gloria is a graduate from the Department of Health Promotion and Disability Studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology-Kumasi, Ghana. She is interested in employment interventions for persons with intellectual disability and in qualitiative research methodologies.

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Published

2021-07-29

How to Cite

1.
Acheampong E, Atta-Osei G, Nadutey A, Bredu-Darkwa P, Boateng G. Challenges associated with Vocational Rehabilitation for Persons with Disability in the Kumasi Metropolis of Ghana. DCIDJ [Internet]. 2021 Jul. 29 [cited 2024 Apr. 30];32(2):88-103. Available from: https://dcidj.uog.edu.et/index.php/up-j-dcbrid/article/view/416

Issue

Vol. 32 No. 2 (2021): Summer

Section

Original Research Articles

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