By Kebba AF Touray
Gender, Children, and Social Welfare Minister Fatou Kinteh has addressed concerns over the delayed implementation of the Disability Act, informing lawmakers that her ministry has been actively working to put the law into effect.
Responding to a question from Banjul North representative Hon. Muhammed L. Bah during a parliamentary session on Wednesday, March 26, Minister Kinteh explained that the delay was due to the need to develop a comprehensive disability policy first.
“There was no delay, actually. After the Act was passed in 2021, we had to develop a policy to operationalise it. That policy was completed in 2022, and implementation started in 2023,” she clarified.
She highlighted that her ministry has taken key steps to support persons with disabilities, including the establishment of a D4 million annual disability fund. The fund is used to empower disability organizations, helping them implement their programs.
Ongoing Support for Persons with Disabilities
Minister Kinteh outlined various initiatives aimed at improving the lives of persons with disabilities:
- Rehabilitation Services: Over 3,500 individuals have received orthopedic and medical support, including wheelchairs and prosthetic limbs.
- Training & Capacity Building: Through funding from Swiss-Ability, 21 specialists were trained in manufacturing prosthetic limbs and physiotherapy services.
- Educational Access: Plans are underway to provide laptops with job accessibility speech software at the University of The Gambia (UTG) to aid visually impaired students.
- New Rehabilitation Center: A new facility is set to open in Bansang, CRR, before the end of 2025, with equipment already procured.
Hon. Sulayman Saho, the Member for Baddibu Central, raised concerns about the accessibility of newly constructed roads and buildings for persons with disabilities.
Minister Kinteh assured lawmakers that the government is committed to enforcing accessibility standards.
“Our disability policy clearly states that all public places must have ramps, and roads must include zebra crossings to ensure safe mobility,” she said.
She urged lawmakers to increase the D4 million allocation, arguing that the current amount is insufficient to meet the needs of persons with disabilities.
Minister Kinteh reaffirmed the government’s commitment to empowering persons with disabilities, stating that her ministry will continue working to ensure full implementation of the Disability Act.
