By Vaye A. Lepolu
The National Disabilities Commission (NDC) is set to celebrate International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD) on December 3, 2025, in Ganta, Nimba County, with an expected attendance of approximately 800 individuals with disabilities.
Executive Director of the NDC, Mr. Samuel C. Dean, announced that the event will be hosted in collaboration with USAID and other international organizations. He emphasized that the celebration aims to raise awareness and support for individuals facing numerous challenges related to disabilities, both in Liberia and around the world.
Mr. Dean highlighted the government’s commitment to supporting persons with disabilities through the Fiscal Year 2025 budget. This budget will focus on training and empowering institutions that provide services to individuals with disabilities, as well as offering financial grants to support disabled entrepreneurs and promote economic empowerment.
He further noted that the government has pledged to provide subsidies to 78 individuals in Montserrado and other regions, with plans to empower approximately 300 persons with disabilities (PWDs) within Montserrado during FY 2025.
In the current FY 2024, the government has already made significant strides by covering school fees and providing tuition aid for about 150 students, including those in high school, vocational training, and university programs. Additionally, livelihood support has been extended to 50 women with disabilities.
Mr. Dean also reported that the government has provided subsidies to 43 individuals with disabilities in Montserrado during the second and third quarters of FY 2024 and has empowered around 200 individuals with disabilities in the same region.
Looking ahead, Mr. Dean shared the NDC’s plans to conduct a comprehensive enumeration of persons with disabilities in collaboration with UNICEF. This initiative aims to categorize individuals with disabilities and determine the actual population of this community in Liberia.
He expressed concerns about the Liberia Institute of Statistics and Geo-Information Services (LISGIS) failing to provide accurate statistical data on persons with disabilities across the country. Mr. Dean stressed the importance of conducting a census to better understand the needs of this population, which would facilitate the development of targeted programs for individuals with disabilities and their families, particularly those who are homeless and begging for assistance.
According to Mr. Dean, many individuals with disabilities found on the streets seeking financial help do so due to the lack of accurate statistical records maintained by LISGIS. He underscored the necessity for the government to address this gap to enhance sustainable development initiatives for persons with disabilities in Liberia.
