Peope with disabilities demand rights

The African youths with disabilities have seriously frowned at the Government of Liberia for not allowing them to have their constitutional rights as Liberians.

Speaking on the New Dawn show on Fabric Radio last Thurday, April 9, 2015, William Yasiah- an executive of the umbrella organization of all disabled people indicated that the Liberian leader President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf needed to have a person with disability as youth advisor so as to be the liaison between the disabled people and the government, noting the violation of their rights at all levels.

According to him, if a disabled person visited any ministry or agency, he or she would have war of words with security operatives or receptionists because of the perception that they he or she had gone to beg.

Rally Fallah, another executive of the disabled organization, said they were demanding their rights from the Government of Liberia, noting that they were as educated as any other person in Liberia, and were in the position to work and serve the Liberian people like others. 

He said President Sirleaf once mandated her ministers to take the initiative of employing one disabled person, but to no avail.

“The President should take the lead to employ one disabled person first, than her ministers will follow; a disabled person can be Minister of Finance or any other ministry or agency, and not only disable leading a disable,” he said.

Mr. Fallah also urged the Government of Liberia to cater to the welfare of their visually impearled brothers and sisters roaming in streets of Monrovia. 

He said people with disabilities in the streets needed to be well catered to considering the fact that they can be harmed by those that are mentally ill or anyone else without redress.

The umbrella organization of the disabled is urging the Government of Liberia to ensure that the disabled are educated, and have access to public offices. “A disabled person can be senator or representative too; as the women are calling for equal rights and representation, we too need our rights and representation.”

By Ethel A. Tweh