GANTA, Nimba – The spokesperson of the Ganta Disabled Association is calling on the national government to give attention to the disabled around the country.
Gabriel Soe, who represented the disabled community at the recent Constitution Review Committee retreat for lawmakers in Ganta, informed lawmakers that people with disabilities in Liberia are being marginalized at all levels.
“What I want to say is that, I want our government or our country or our constitution review committee to critically look at the issues affecting people living with disabilities in Liberia,†Soe said to those attending the retreat.
He said Liberian law provides equal opportunities for every person living in the country. According to Soe, this provision in the Liberian constitution is not given attention by the government. He noted that disabled people often lack the requisite qualifications for job opportunities because they are often prevented from obtaining higher education in colleges and universities in the country.
“Most of the time when we go to seek jobs, they say that we disabled are not qualified to get the job,” Soe said. “How can we get the qualifications if we are not accepted in colleges or universities in our country simply because we are disabled people?”
Soe said people with disabilities are often denied the rights to live a normal and happy family life. He said families constantly discourage relatives from establishing marital relationships with the disabled, a situation he said he currently faces.
The existing Liberian constitution does not have any specific language protecting the disabled against discrimination. Such language exists for the categories of sex, creed, religion, ethnic background, place of origin, and political affiliation.
Additionally, Liberia has no civil rights laws similar to the American Disability Act, specifically tailored to the disabled. As a result, almost no government building has entrances with wheelchair ramps; public transit vehicles are not equipped to pick up disabled passengers; and sidewalks are not properly maintained and often have craters that may be dangerous for the blind.
While the Decent Work Act of 2015, in theory, provides equal employment protection for the physically and mentally challenged, many Liberians are not aware of the specifics of the law or the proper channels for filing grievances.
Featured photo by Arrington Ballah
