Disability Commission Unveils Bold Reforms

The Acting Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Apostle Dr. J. Aaron Wright Sr., has announced a sweeping set of reform initiatives aimed at strengthening institutional capacity and expanding opportunities for persons with disabilities (PWDs) across Liberia.

Speaking at a press briefing, Wright emphasized the urgent need for inclusive governance and called on public institutions nationwide to employ qualified persons with disabilities at all levels, describing such action as essential to national development.

He began by congratulating Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr. for appointing Joshua Shadrach, a member of the disability community, as Public Defender, urging other institutions to follow what he termed a “progressive and exemplary decision.”

Wright stated that his leadership at the NCD is grounded in a commitment to dignity, rights, and inclusion, noting that persons with disabilities must be fully integrated into Liberia’s social and economic systems.

Addressing growing concerns within the disability community, he acknowledged frustrations over the pace of change but cautioned against divisive or radical actions that could undermine collective progress.

According to him, sustainable transformation requires transparency, unity, and constructive dialogue among stakeholders, rather than confrontation.

Providing an update on the Commission’s work, Wright disclosed that since taking office, his administration has prioritized building a solid institutional foundation to support long-term impact.

A comprehensive assessment of the NCD revealed significant structural and operational deficiencies, confirming longstanding concerns about the Commission’s limited effectiveness.

In response, an emergency technical team was established to design a Strategic Plan covering 2026 to 2029, which has already undergone stakeholder validation and awaits official launch.

Wright noted that despite limited resources, the Commission has begun implementing key components of the plan, including the creation of new departments with support from volunteer experts.

He further revealed that the NCD has contributed to Liberia’s overdue report to the United Nations Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, a requirement pending since 2022.

Additionally, a nationwide needs assessment and verification exercise has been conducted across all fifteen counties, with findings expected to be released soon.

Highlighting resource challenges, Wright said the Commission has actively engaged international partners, securing a collaboration with the International Labour Organization to support skills development for persons with disabilities in seven counties.

The partnership is expected to be finalized by April and forms part of broader efforts to improve economic empowerment and inclusion.

Wright also announced plans to assess and vet organizations of persons with disabilities to ensure credible local partnerships in implementing community-level programs.

He stressed that all initiatives align with the inclusive development agenda of Joseph Nyuma Boakai, particularly under the ARREST Agenda, which prioritizes equitable national growth.

The NCD, he added, is in ongoing discussions with additional local and international partners to expand access to social services and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.

Concluding his remarks, Wright urged patience and unity among citizens, reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to transparency and inviting the public to engage directly with its offices to foster accountability and collaboration.

See Press statement below 

Press Briefing Script – By Apostle Dr. J. Aaron Wright Sr, Acting Executive Director, National Commission on Disabilities (NCD)

 AS NCD HIGHLIGHTS NEW REFORM INITIATIVES; ENCOURAGES PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS TO EMPLOY QUALIFY PWDS AT ALL LEVELS

Ladies and Gentlemen of the Press, Distinguished Guests, Leaders and Members of Organizations of Persons with Disabilities, Fellow Persons with Disabilities across our fifteen counties, and all Liberians tuning in,

I thank you for this opportunity to address my fellow citizens, particularly persons with disabilities across the country. Before I proceed with my presentation, let me cease this opportunity to congratulate the chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia, His Honor, Yamie Quiqui Gbeisay Sr., for appointing a member of our community, Atty. Joshua Shadrach, as a Public Defender. We want to encourage other public institutions to emulate the good example demonstrated by our Chief Justice.  

Today, I speak not only as the Acting Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities, but as a fellow citizen deeply committed to the rights, dignity, and inclusion of every person with a disability in Liberia.

I am fully aware of the concerns, frustrations, and questions being raised by some members of our community. I have heard the voices calling for faster change and greater accountability. These concerns are valid and deserve serious attention. However, I also believe that lasting solutions can only come through truth, transparency, and collective effort — not through division or radical actions that risk weakening our common cause.

It is in this spirit of openness and responsibility that I appear before you today: to provide a clear account of the work we have done since assuming office, to share the concrete steps we are taking to strengthen the Commission, and to invite genuine dialogue so that together we can build an institution that truly serves all persons with disabilities.

I am grateful for this opportunity to speak o you through this national platform directly on the work of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD). We are also grateful to the leadership of the Ministry of Information for the wonderful work they continue to do by keeping our people informed.

Since assuming office, our leadership has focused on laying a strong foundation for meaningful and sustainable change in the lives of persons with disabilities across Liberia.

Let me highlight some of our key achievements so far:

First, we conducted a comprehensive physical and institutional capacity assessment of the Commission. The findings confirmed what many had suspected: the NCD lacked the functional systems and structures required for an effective public institution — especially one serving our country’s most vulnerable population.

Armed with this evidence-based report, we moved swiftly. We established an emergency technical team that developed a comprehensive Strategic Plan (2026–2029). This plan has already been validated by stakeholders and is pending official launch. Even before its formal launch, we began implementing critical elements using the limited resources available to us.

As part of early implementation, we have:

• Established new units and departments with the support of experienced volunteer consultants who offered their expertise to help us build capacity quickly.
• Supported the development of Liberia’s national response to the Committee on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD), which had been overdue since 2022.
• Launched a nationwide needs and verification assessment to understand the real challenges faced by persons with disabilities in all 15 counties. The final report from this important exercise will be released in the coming days.

We are fully aware that the resources currently allocated to the Commission are insufficient to meet the scale of needs. Therefore, we have proactively engaged development partners. I am pleased to announce that we have secured a partnership with the International Labour Organization (ILO) to support the empowerment and skills development of persons with disabilities in seven counties. This arrangement will be finalized by April this year.

Additionally, as outlined in our Strategic Plan, we will soon conduct a capacity assessment and vetting of organizations of persons with disabilities (OPWDs). This process will prepare credible local partners to work with the Commission in implementing projects at the community level.

All these interventions are deliberately aligned with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s vision for inclusive development under the ARREST Agenda — ensuring that persons with disabilities are not left behind but are active participants in Liberia’s progress.

We are also in advanced discussions with several other local and international partners to mobilize additional support for access to basic social services, economic opportunities, and rights protection for persons with disabilities.

Fellow Liberians, especially my brothers and sisters with disabilities:

I understand that some of you may feel frustrated or impatient with the pace of change. However, the radical approach of taking to the streets or issuing inflammatory statements will not solve our deep-rooted institutional challenges. What we need now is patience, unity, and constructive engagement.

The NCD is committed to transparency and accountability. We therefore strongly encourage all persons with disabilities, leaders of disabled organizations, and concerned citizens to visit the Commission’s offices at any time for direct engagement and clarity on our programs and decisions. We are open to genuine dialogue because together we can build a stronger, more effective Commission that truly serves our community.

Let us work hand-in-hand to transform challenges into opportunities and ensure that every person with a disability in Liberia enjoys dignity, inclusion, and equal rights.

Thank you. I am now ready to take your questions.