Disability Stakeholders Review Enforcement of 2021 Act

By Madi S. Njie, Banjul

A nationwide push to strengthen the enforcement of The Gambia’s Persons with Disabilities Act, 2021 continued on Thursday as representatives of disability organisations and government institutions convened at the GOVI Resource Centre in Kanifing.

The forum, organised by the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Welfare in partnership with the National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities (NACPWD), served as a platform to brief stakeholders on progress made since the law came into effect and to address persistent gaps in service delivery and inclusion.

Government Reports Gains on Implementation

Delivering remarks on behalf of the Ministry, Principal Social Welfare Officer Modou Suwareh said enforcement efforts have gathered momentum in recent years. Key milestones, he noted, include the formal gazetting of the Act in 2023, the establishment of NACPWD chaired by His Worship Muhammed Krubally, and the refurbishment of a permanent Secretariat in Banjul, which is set for inauguration on Saturday.

Mr. Suwareh further disclosed that D4 million was disbursed last year to ten organisations of persons with disabilities (OPDs), the Gambia Federation of the Disabled (GFD), and the Advisory Council through the newly created Disability Fund. A similar amount has already been approved for 2025.

“We want to support every organisation, but with limited resources, priority will be given to groups that did not benefit last year,” he explained.

The Ministry is also working with Stand (formerly Start4Africa) to rehabilitate the National Rehabilitation Centre and plans to open a new rehabilitation unit at Bansang Hospital in January 2026.

Legal Reforms Strengthening Inclusion

Representing the Ministry of Justice, Senior State Counsel Fatoumatta Drammeh applauded the progress made so far, recalling that the Disability Act followed The Gambia’s ratification of the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in 2016.

“This legislation was overdue,” she said. “It ensures equal opportunity and full participation of persons with disabilities in the national development process.”

Counsel Drammeh highlighted that the Act guarantees access to employment, infrastructure, and public services, while also outlining penalties for rights violations. She encouraged disability organisations to maintain constructive engagement with state institutions to ensure that the law delivers on its promise.

Call for Stronger Collaboration

Chairman of NACPWD, His Worship Muhammed Krubally, underscored the importance of government–civil society partnership in realising an inclusive society.

Mr. Krubally—also The Gambia’s only visually impaired magistrate—urged continued advocacy for adequate resources, technical support, and coordinated policy execution.

Education, Data and Rehabilitation Highlighted

Moderating the session, GFD Acting Executive Director Sainey Camara said that education and economic empowerment remain major setbacks, with only about three percent of persons with disabilities completing basic education.

He announced that The Gambia will conduct its first national disability survey since 1998 in 2026, supported by the World Bank. The new data is expected to guide planning and tailored interventions across all sectors.

Mr. Camara also outlined the four pillars of rehabilitation—economic empowerment, personal independence, assistive devices, and social inclusion—stressing that accessibility to infrastructure and communication remains a decisive factor in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Regional Outreach Continues

Organisers confirmed that similar forums will be hosted in Brikama, before moving on to other regions across the country as part of a nationwide sensitisation drive on the Act.

Photo Credits

Photos by Mutarr Jarju (OSDIV) and Muhammed Jallow (NUDY).