Stakeholders from the disability community, including organisations of persons with disabilities and government ministries, on Thursday held a sensitisation meeting at the Gambia Organisation for the Visually Impaired (GOVI) Resource Centre in Kanifing to review progress on the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2021.

The forum, organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare in partnership with the National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities, aimed to update participants on achievements and challenges since the Act came into force.

Opening the session, Principal Social Welfare Officer Modou Suwareh said the meeting was convened to brief partners on practical steps taken to enforce the Act. He noted that the Ministry serves as custodian of the legislation and is responsible for coordinating its implementation across the country.

Suwareh highlighted key milestones, including the gazetting of the Act in 2023, the establishment of the National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities chaired by Magistrate Muhammed Krubally, and the refurbishment of a permanent Secretariat in Banjul which will be inaugurated on Saturday.

He said a Disability Fund has been set up to support organisations working with persons with disabilities. Last year, D4 million was disbursed to 10 OPDs, the Gambia Federation of the Disabled and the Advisory Council. Another D4 million has been approved for 2025, following a nationwide needs assessment.

He also outlined ongoing rehabilitation efforts, including upgrades at the National Rehabilitation Centre in Banjul and plans to establish a rehabilitation unit at Bansang Hospital by January 2026.

Representing the Ministry of Justice, Senior State Counsel Fatoumatta Drammeh praised progress made in strengthening legal protections for persons with disabilities. She noted that the 2021 Act followed The Gambia’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016.

“This law was long overdue,” she said, adding that it ensures equality before the law and guarantees the rights to employment, accessibility and full participation in national development. She urged OPDs to continue engaging state institutions to ensure effective enforcement.

In his remarks, National Advisory Council Chairman and Principal Magistrate Muhammed Krubally called for deeper collaboration among government institutions, OPDs and development partners. He said sustained advocacy, adequate resources and strengthened institutional capacity were essential to improving disability inclusion nationwide.

The meeting brought together officials from various ministries, civil society, and development partners, all reaffirming their commitment to advancing the rights and welfare of persons with disabilities. Similar events will be held in Brikama tomorrow, followed by other regions across The Gambia.

Moderating the session, GFD Acting Executive Director Sainey Camara underscored the importance of capacity building, rehabilitation and inclusion in driving implementation of the Act. He noted that only about three percent of persons with disabilities complete basic education, highlighting the need for stronger interventions.

Camara announced that a national disability survey—the first since 1998—will be conducted in 2026 with support from the World Bank to provide updated data for planning.

He also outlined the four pillars of rehabilitation: economic empowerment, personal independence, provision of assistive devices, and social inclusion.

He said accessibility to infrastructure, communication and services remains a major challenge, but is crucial to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals’ commitment to “Leave No One Behind.”

By Madi S Njie