President Bio together with the Social Welfare Minister, Madam Baindu Dassama-Kamara, have launched the Livelihood Support Project and the Accessibility Audit Report.
The event which draws the attention of many Ministers of Government was geared towards aiding the socio-economic development of People With Disabilities (PWDs) across the country.
In his statement, His Excellency President Julius Maada Bio said the launch of the Livelihood Support Project was a sign of his Government’s preparedness to address street begging among persons with disabilities and to improve the country’s human rights credentials by empowering vulnerable groups in the country.
He added that the launch of the Accessibility Audit Report would also encourage stakeholders to support the Government in building a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities, stating that the Persons with Disability Act 2011 provided for a barrier-free environment for persons with disabilities.
“As part of the process of reducing vulnerability and tackling the menace of street begging among PWDs, the Ministry of Social Welfare is working on this economic empowerment programme with the aim of building the capacity of persons with disabilities through skills training, provision of start-up kits, provision of reintegration package, provision of social safety net in the form of cash transfer among others to end street begging among persons with disabilities. The skills will include welding, tailoring, hairdressing, information and communication technology, carving, beadwork, gara tie-dying and tricycle riding,” he announched.
