Monrovia — A two-day special consultation with Persons With Disability (PWD) on the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive development has ended in Gbarnga, Bong County.
By Selma Lomax, [email protected]
The consultation was conducted by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. The outcomes of the engagements, the ministry said, will culminate in the creation of a comprehensive report summarizing key findings and recommendations. The report will outline targeted projects to be incorporated into the AAID, CDAs, and PSIP, thereby embedding PWDs’ needs into Liberia’s broader development agenda.
Speaking at the start of the consultations, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nations in Liberia, Christine Umutoni, lauded the government of Liberia for the consultation, describing Persons with Disabilities as strong voices in the development of any nation.
The UN Resident Coordinator, while recognizing the roles of all Liberians in developing the country’s agenda, appreciated the leadership of the country for ensuring that Liberians are widely consulted on the next course of the development process.
She said these processes will result to Liberians owning their development initiatives and not see it as an imposition.
The Assistant Minister for Development Planning at the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, Wellington Barchue, termed the holding of the consultations with Persons with Disabilities as commitment by the President Joseph Nyumah Boakai’s leadership to leave no one behind in decision making.
He said President Boakai places premium on seeking the welfare of PWDs and wants their wishes and aspirations reflected in the national development agenda.
He added the consultation is also tailored towards identifying development challenges of persons living with disabilities and outline priorities to address them.
For their part, the Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities Hon. Samuel S. Dean, Sr. and the President of the National Union of Organizations of the Disabled, Peter B.K. Flomo, lauded government for elevating the interest of Persons Living with Disabilities.
According to them, it’s the first time that an exclusive consultation is being held to hear from them on their challenges and solutions to those challenges that will be included in the national development agenda.
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