Nurturing Opportunities: Assessing the Challenges and Engagement of Young Persons With Disabilities in Ghana's...

This study investigates the engagement of young persons with disabilities (YPWDs) in agribusiness in Ghana, where participation remains limited despite commitments to inclusive development. Using a mixed-methods design, the research incorporates quantitative survey data from 169 respondents (97 females and 72 males) and qualitative insights from in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. The findings revealed that 52.8% of currently employed YPWDs were engaged in agribusiness. These were primarily older female youth with limited formal education. Participants identified seven barriers: physical inaccessibility, stigma and discrimination, lack of land, lack of financial support, limited training opportunities, inadequate knowledge, and general disinterest in the sector. Guided by inclusive capability theory (ICT), the analysis shows how social norms, institutional gaps, and environmental factors restrict YPWDs' ability to transform interest into meaningful agricultural participation. While the findings align with global evidence on youth disengagement from agriculture, this study emphasizes the intersection of disability and age-related marginalization. It argues that addressing exclusion in agribusiness requires capability-enhancing approaches, including inclusive infrastructure, disability-responsive financing, adapted extension services, and sustained public awareness. Such measures are vital for promoting social equity and strengthening national agricultural productivity while advancing sustainable development goals.