The Ghana Federation of Disability Organisations (GFD) has questioned the Board Youth Employment Agency (YEA) for not promoting its Deputy Chief Executive Officer due to his visual impairment.

President John Dramani Mahama appointed Mr Jacob Atule Adongo in September 2015 to occupy the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Agency in charge of operations.

The YEA Board was requested to advise the President on the directive in consultation with the Public Services Commission (PSC).

But Mr Yaw Ofori Debrah, GFD President said in a statement copied to the Ghana News Agency on Tuesday that though Mr Adongo’s appointment has not been revoked by the President, he has not been allowed to assume office or act as ratification by the PSC was still pending.

The Federation expressed concern that Mr Adongo has been denied “promotion and ratification on condition of blindness and lack of qualification” and queried whether he has been “short-changed”.

“The GFD wishes to know from the appointing authority whether Mr Adongo who was given an appointment by the President…since September 2015 to work as Deputy CEO of YEA has been shortchanged,” the statement said.

He has not been processed for ratification by the PSC though two other officers are reported to have been appointed lately have been allowed to assume office and to act as Deputy CEOs without being ratified by the PSC, it added.

The GFD said it believed the President appointed people capable of helping to execute the country’s development agenda and has continued to demonstrate ample willingness and passion to build an inclusive and equitable society.

“The goodwill of the President towards all Ghanaians should therefore not be impeded consciously or unconsciously by anyone,” it said.

The Federation called on the Chief of Staff to step in to clear the confusion surrounding Mr Adongo’s appointment since it is simmering a certain notion within the disability fraternity.

Mr Adongo was the Head of Disability and Gender Desk at the YEA before being appointed by the President to the position of Deputy CEO of the Agency.