BUCHANAN, Grand Bassa – Members of the disabled community in Grand Bassa have praised authorities of the county for allotting US$5,000 to them in the county’s development budget at the recently held council sitting in Buchanan.
The coordinator of the Christian Association of the Blind, Robert Kpadoe, who spoke for the disabled community, said the allotment is a clear indication of compassion from the county’s leadership. The community comprises members who are deaf, dumb, blind, and crippled.
He said the US$5,000 allotment is US$2,000 higher than what was allotted to them in the 2016/2017 budget, which gives him hope that the county will improve the amount in the future.
In 2017, US$1,500 of the US$3,000 allotment made to the disabled community was equally divided to each representative group that makes up the community, and the remaining US$1,500 was used to purchase land that will be used for the construction of a headquarter for the disabled union in Bassa.
This year, Kpadoe said the Christian Association of the Blind will use its portion of the allotment to contribute to the cost of constructing their office.
“We started building our office that will contain two bathrooms, four rooms, and a conference hall. So, when we get that money, there we will put it and we are praying to God for more,” he disclosed.
Kpadoe noted that the estimated cost of the construction of their office is US$15,000. In addition to their portion of the county’s allotment, he said the group is soliciting support from local and international organizations for the completion of the project.
Despite receiving more financial support than expected from the county, the disabled community was denied representation at the sitting.
Members of the disabled community had recently launched an advocacy campaign seeking a delegate status to the county council sitting. However, their advocacy was not adhered to.
Kpadoe disclosed that three members designated to represent the disabled community at the recent council sitting were denied delegate statuses.
“One thing they did not do is that we sent three persons to represent us at the County Sitting [and] they were not recognized. Although they did not recognize them, our business was in their minds,” he said.
Allotments made at the recently held County development council sitting also included US$10,000 for support to women organizations, US$9,500 to community radio stations, and US$15,000 as support to the Bassa Youth Caucus.
Featured photo by Sampson David
