A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF THE PRODUCTIVITY OF THE PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED AND THE NON- PHYSICALLY CHALLENGED IN THE ARTS AND CRAFT INDUSTRY IN THE BOLGATANGA MUNICIPALIT

Abstract

Discrimination against persons with disabilities (PWDs) in the realm of employment has been a real problem especially in developing countries such as Ghana.It is to avert this that, over the years the campaign for productivity and inclusion for all persons has been launched in the global sphere. These interventions notwithstanding, PWDs are often perceived as less productive compared with persons without disability. This perception has existed for decades with little theoretical and empirical data to support, confirm or reject this notion.It is in view of this that this studyexamined the extent to which the productivity of the physically challengeddiffers from the non-physically challenged in the Arts and Craft industry in the Bolgatanga Municipality, and the factors that explain these differences in productivity. To measure the productivity differentials, the study examined the quantity of crafts produced, analyzed the quality of craftsproduced,examinedhow the efficiency of production of the physically challenged differ from the non- physically challenged, andexplored the factors that affect the productivity of the physically challenged compared to the non-physically challenged. Thestudy made use of a mixed methods design, specifically adopting the concurrent triangulation strategy.Key informant interviews and questionnaires were administered.The quantitative and qualitative data were analyzed using SPSS and thematic content analysis respectively. The findings of the study showed that the physically challenged produced more and sold more products per week than their non physically challenged counterparts. The crafts of the physically challenged were of better quality compared with the crafts of the non-physically challenged. On the bases of these findings,the physically challenged were more productive as compared to the non-physically challenged in the Arts and Craft industry in the Bolgatanga Municipality. Poor prices for crafts affected productivity.The study recommends theunionization of craft workers.