By Ibrahim Karim Bangura (Tanko)
One of the best disability rights activist campaigners, Adama Team Foundation-US-UK-SL and the Sierra Leone Association of Deaf (SLAD) has strongly condemned the recent violation of the Sierra Leone Persons with Disabilities Act 2011, specifically regarding the attempted removal of Dr. Vandy Konneh, the current Chairman of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities (NCPD).
They highlight that the Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, misinformed and misguided the government by recommending a new chairman despite there being no vacancy, a clear breach of the 2011 Disability Act. Dr. Konneh was duly appointed on May 16, 2024, and approved by Parliament in June 2024.
The Act outlines clear procedures for the appointment and tenure of the Chairman, including a three-year term and specific conditions for removal (Section 4), relating to lack of performance, incompetency, or criminal behaviour. But Dr. Kanneh’s situation does not fall under these conditions, rendering the sad attempted replacement unlawful.
The National Alliance for Persons with Disabilities, which this Foundation is a part of, demands immediate action: Dr. Konneh should be allowed to complete his term, an investigation into the minister’s actions initiated, policies modified for future compliance, and the unlawful appointment letter retracted. Parliamentarians are urged to uphold the rule of law and protect the rights of persons with disabilities.
Osman Amadu Fofanah, Public Relations Officer, SLAD, described the decision of government as unfortunate. “Dr. Konneh is highly proactive and hard-working. We believe in Dr. Konneh, despite the challenges. Parliament must reject the so-called new Disabilities’ Commissioner that the Minister and Co. are trying to impose on us,” he explained.
Unfortunately, Africa-24 Newspaper and HotSpot Online TV strongly made all efforts to reach the Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty, to respond to these miserable allegations through her WhatsApp Contact +23278227407.
“Minister Karminty said: “Check the appointment letter you are referring to if I am the one who signed it.
You ought to know better. You can only prove validity by engaging the one who signed a letter. I am the one who signed it.
Have you seen the letter? I thought that is the first thing you should have done was to request for the letter and see who signed it. Please be a wise journalist. I am not engaging on this matter, please. Thank you.”
These mediums would continue to unearth sad developments at the Ministry of Social Welfare, especially issues that have to do with unconstitutional removal of the Commissioner for Persons with Disability.
