For Not Recognizing Disabled In His SONA, Boakai Receives Lashes

Monrovia, Liberia – A visually impaired Liberian, Blama Siryon, a resident of District #17 Montserrado County has expresses serious dissatisfaction in President Boakai for not recognizing people living with disabilities in his first State of the Nation Address.

In his address on January 29, 2024, to the 55th Legislature up Capitol Hill in Monrovia, President Boakai outlined national priorities ranging from Blama Siryon, governance to youth empowerment, infrastructure, and more, with an acceptance of recognizing the disabled community.

Speaking in an interview on Thursday, February 1, 2024, visually impaired Blama Siryon urged the government of Liberia to give priority to the needs of persons living with disabilities, stating that they, as individuals with disabilities, seek good living and employment prospects.

“We are all part of the nation, so anything they are trying to do, we as disabled people should be mentioned in every agenda of this nation. I strongly believe that disabled people are on his agenda.”

He asked the government to provide 10,000 youth with training for empowerment, and he suggested that the president include ten people with impairments.

“His statement about training 10,000 youth, my recommendation to him is that atleast 10 disabled people should be included as part of that 10,000 youth training.”

He emphasized that they desire possibilities for employment and a fair standard of living as individuals with disabilities, and he urged the Liberian government to give them priority.