By Rocheford T. Gardiner
Harper, Liberia – People Living with Disabilities (PWDs) in Maryland County have called on President Joseph Boakai and his administration to ensure a significantly higher budgetary allotment for their community.
Speaking recently at their regular monthly meeting in Harper, several PWDs expressed profound disappointment, citing what they called “total neglect” by government—from the county level to the central government and the County Legislative Caucus.
The PWDs lamented that their colleagues in the Monrovia area receive the majority of attention, including support for education, small business start-ups, and specialized healthcare, while they remain marginalized.
Frustrated by the apparent lack of concern, the PWDs stated they are now considering open street protests. They believe this is the only means by which central government and local officials will hear their pleas.
William C. Nyanneh, a PWD and a student at the William V. S. Tubman University in Harper, highlighted the discouraging situation, noting the lack of even a basic office space or a set leadership structure for the community in the county.
Mr. Nyanneh, who is disabled from the waist down, is one of the fortunate few to own a modified wheelchair with pedals for mobility. He used the opportunity to urge his peers to remain united, stating, “if someone is bathing your back, you should bathe your stomach.” He added that most PWDs in the county have no means of transportation and must rely on family and friends for mobility.
In a related development, a group of Marylanders who made an initial intervention with the PWDs in July are continuing their efforts to bring relief to the community. This action has helped galvanize the PWDs into organizing their local leadership structure.
The PWDs are expected to shortly present a formal petition statement to the Maryland County Administration, outlining their plight and proposing ways forward to alleviate their challenges.