Hon. Michael Kpakpo Allotey, Mayor of Accra has appealed to corporate institutions and the business community to support job creation by deliberately including Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) and the youth in their recruitment, as part of efforts to expand opportunities for residents in Accra.

The Mayor made the call during working visits to the Melcom Group of Companies, Royal Motors, M/S Thakar Overseas Limited, and Sigma Gas Company Limited, where discussions focused on strengthening partnerships with the private sector and expanding access to decent jobs.

The Mayor urged the firms to make inclusion a deliberate policy by reserving opportunities for qualified PWDs and young people, stressing that expanding access to jobs was essential to improving livelihoods and strengthening the city’s local economy.

He 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.

At Melcom, Managing Director Ramesh Sadhwa stated that the company currently employs about 6,000 Ghanaians nationwide and seeking to fill more than 100 vacant positions, but  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.

The Managing Director for Royal Motors, during his interaction with the Mayor said with the passage of the Okada bill, the company was prepared to train interested applicants in motorcycle riding and was also open to employing more people at its assembling factory.