MONROVIA, Liberia — The suspended Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Mr. Samuel Dean, has issued a strongly worded open letter to the Minister of Public Works, Hon. Roland Layfette Giddings, criticizing the exclusion of Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) from the ongoing Infrastructure Conference being held in Nimba County from January 19 to 23.
In the letter, addressed to Minister Giddings at the Ministry of Public Works on South Lynch Street in Monrovia, Mr. Dean expressed concern that the week-long national conference failed to adequately include disability perspectives in its planning and discussions. He described the omission as a serious oversight that undermines Liberia’s national and international commitments to inclusive development.
According to Dean, the exclusion of PWDs violates several binding international and policy frameworks, including the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), the Amman–Berlin Declaration, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). He further noted that the situation contradicts the government’s Arrest Agenda for Inclusive Development (AAID), which is rooted in the principle of inclusivity and the global pledge to “leave no one behind.”
Dean emphasized that nearly 20 percent of Liberia’s population lives with some form of disability, making their absence from a national dialogue on housing and road infrastructure not only discriminatory in effect but inconsistent with the purpose of such policy forums.
The suspended NCD head also highlighted long-standing accessibility challenges across the country, pointing out that enforceable accessibility laws and reasonable accommodation standards remain largely absent. He criticized the continued issuance of construction permits without compliance with building codes that accommodate persons with disabilities, noting that even major government facilities—including the Capitol Building—are largely inaccessible.
He cited broken elevators and the routine practice of carrying wheelchair users up staircases as degrading and in direct violation of Article 9 of the UNCRPD, which guarantees equal access to public buildings and services.
Dean disclosed that prior to the conference, he had engaged the Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Public Works, who requested his professional profile and photograph for possible inclusion as a panelist. Despite complying, he said no follow-up or confirmation was received, and the conference proceeded without any disability expert participating.
While acknowledging his current status as a temporarily suspended government official, Dean stressed that he remains capable of advocating for the rights of persons with disabilities. He argued that effective advocacy and technical expertise should not be limited to those currently holding office.
In a call for corrective action, Dean urged the Ministry of Public Works to invite a qualified disability expert to contribute to discussions on housing and road infrastructure. He said such a move would reinforce Liberia’s commitment to inclusivity, equity, and international best practices.
Dean concluded by expressing hope that the ministry would act promptly in the interest of justice, dignity, and national development, reaffirming his belief that inclusive infrastructure is essential to building a modern and equitable Liberia.
