The National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) in collaboration with various stakeholders has ended a one-day validation gathering on its (2026 - 2029) Four Year Strategic Plan to change the narrative of people of the disabled community in Liberia.
It was held recently at the NCD Head Office in Congo Town, Montserrado County.
The Plan is to direct (NCD) in contributing to the National Development Plan of the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID) and strengthen the Government's commitment to the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD.
It is to provide guidelines for implementing priority interventions, strengthen efficiency in service delivery to Persons with disabilities (PWDs) through the Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPWDs).
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The Plan also seeks to enhance collaboration and coordination with public and private institutions and integral partners as well as (OPWD's) milestones, like vocational training, advocacy and community-based rehabilitation into national strategies.
Moreover, the NCD's Strategic Plan, among other things, focuses on addressing access to quality education, unemployment rate of PWDs, access to healthcare services, facilities that are physically inaccessible including stigma and discrimination.
According to the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) Program Manager, Mohammed Sackor, the Plan also takes into consideration education, employment, and healthcare, including social and economic inclusion and gender disparities.
Besides, Mr. Sackor explained that the document focuses on key areas including institutional and policy reforms, regulatory frameworks, and staff capacity-building initiatives.
He added that the Strategic Plan also identifies major challenges affecting persons with disabilities and outlines practical approaches to effectively address those issues, with the goal of improving inclusion and participation nationwide.
Speaking earlier, NCD Executive Director, Apostles Dr. J. Aaron Wright, Jr., indicated that the National Strategic Plan for Disability Inclusive Development Programs (2026-2029) represents the collective priorities of all persons with disabilities and calls fora firm national commitment to ensuring that persons with disabilities are fully included in Liberia's social, economic, and political development.
Apostles Dr. Wright, Jr., emphasized that it moves the country from intention to action by providing a coordinated framework that prioritizes rights, dignity, accessibility, and equal opportunity for all.
Meanwhile, in a special statement delivered on behalf of the president, the Political Advisor to President Joseph Boakai, Madam MacDella Cooper, repeated the government's commitment to removing barriers and creating equal opportunities for persons with disabilities across Liberia.
Madam Cooper emphasized: "That people living with disabilities possess talents, ideas, and strengths that are vital to national growth, describing them as an integral part of Liberia's development process".
She stressed that persons with disabilities must not be sidelined in the country's development journey, but rather fully included in all aspects of national planning and progress.
"Inclusion of persons with disabilities is not an act of goodwill but a shared responsibility that must be embraced by all Liberians, underscoring that true development can only be achieved when no segment of society is left behind", Madam Cooper.
She made these remarks recently during a one-day validation workshop for the National Commission on Disabilities' four-year Strategic Plan, held in Congo Town.
At the event, the Political Advisor to President Joseph Boakai, highlighted the government's ARREST Agenda, noting that inclusive development remains a core priority of the Bookia's administration.
The NCD is a statutory body of the Government of Liberia, which is responsible for coordinating, regulating, advocating, and soliciting support for persons with disabilities in the Republic of Liberia.
It was established by an Act of Legislation in November 2005 and printed into the Hand Bill in December 2005. Since its establishment, the Commission has consistently carried out the task of protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities.
Currently, NCD is involved in providing financial assistance to registered and accredited Organizations of Persons with Disabilities (OPWDs), implementing programs and projects including educational aids to students with disabilities and small grants for businesses; advocating and lobbying for the creation of job opportunities for persons with disabilities; conducting nationwide awareness and sensitization campaigns; supporting agricultural activities to ensure food security for persons with disabilities and advocating for accessible infrastructures and assistive technology for persons with disabilities.
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Vision
An inclusive society where persons with disabilities fully and equally enjoy their fundamental rights and freedoms, with equal access to opportunities and resources
Mission
NCD is committed to ensure that the state recognizes, respects, and promotes the inherent dignities and fundamental rights and provides equal access to basic social and economic services to all persons with disabilities (PWDs).
Core Values:
The core values of the NCD are:
- Commitment: We are committed to the mandate of NCD to respect cultural, ethnic, and religious diversities and value everyone's contributions
- Integrity: We are honest and truthful about our decisions and actions
- Teamwork: We work together cooperatively to achieve our goal, irrespective of who takes the credit.
- Openness: Our decision-making and communications are clear and transparent.
- Leadership: Our actions reflect our leadership responsibilities
- Accountability: We take full responsibility for our actions and are accountable for the consequence thereof.
