Sierra Leone News: Disabled community calls for 5% inclusion in governance

Five percent of Cabinet, board members of government commissions and ambassadorial positions should be persons with disabilities, according to the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues (SLUDI). The President of SLUDI, Santigie Kargbo, wants President Bio to appoint a disabled person to serve as a Disability Aide in the Office of the President. He also called on the new government to strengthen the National Commission for Persons with Disability and to fully implement the Person with Disability Act 2011.
Kargbo said the President and his party made promises and committed themselves to the six points embedded in the National Agenda for the Inclusion and Participation of Persons with Disability, during the election campaign.
According to the newly elected MP at Constituency 106 at the Western Rural, Mohamed C. Kabia, who happens to be a disabled person, out of the 132 newly elected MP’s, disabled people make up of below 1%. He maintained, “more needs to be done to increase the participation of disabled in governance”
The Country Director for West Minster Foundation, Mohamed A. Jalloh, said that the four political parties that will be in Parliament have very rich manifestos with regards to surmounting the many challenges the disabled face. Jalloh added that it only remains how they can advocates on issues affecting disabled person in parliament and makes that a reality.
According to the Executive Director of Shared Vision, Sanusi Mohamed Sesay, the disabled continue to be marginalized. He highlighted, “The unemployment rate among disabled is very high, which should be a concern for the government.” He mentioned that democracy should not only stop at the ballot box but must reflect on the lives of the people.
The Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Person with Disability, Saa Lamin Kortequee, urged his colleagues to showcase their usefulness whenever they are given the opportunity. He pointed out that “persons with disability must be included not integrated.
MJB/18/4/18
By Mohamed J. Bah
Thursday April 19, 2018.