By: Mawusie P.I. Dumbuya
Information Communications and Outreach Manager
Chairman of National Commission for Persons with Disability (NCPD) James T. Cullen has on Friday 24th September 2021 presented a cheque of Thirty Million Leones (Le 30,000,000) to the Deaf Association Women Network Sierra Leone (DWANSL) to enable the organization to participate in Mister and Miss Deaf Africa 2021.
According to the Commission’s czar, the largesse is part of the NCPD’s direct support to disabled organizations and revealed that the group will be representing Sierra Leone in the inaugural event of Mister and Miss Deaf Africa 2021 in Tanzania.
He said the is to facilitate the procurement of round-trip tickets to Tanzania for two contestants and a sign language interpreter. He maintained that the support has clearly shown that NCPD is committed to promote and build the capacity of women with disabilities.
In his statement, the Commission’s Regional Coordinator West Jonathan Conteh highlighted that NCPD have been supporting organizations that work on disability issues and the speech and hearing-impaired associations are no exception “as a Commission we had in the past supported other speech and hearing-impaired organizations in capacity building activities” he mentioned.
Receiving the cheque on behalf of the contestants, Kadiatu Mariama Bangura said the benevolent act of the Commission will not be forgotten easily “we are grateful for this opportunity to represent Sierra Leone and showcase our talent at the event” she averred.
She thanked the management and staff of the Commission and by extension the government of Sierra Leone for reposing confidence in them and promised to come home with laurels.
She said DWANSL received an invitation from Tanzania Deaf Arts and Cultural Center in collaboration with Africa Deaf Cultural and Arts to participate in the first ever Deaf Contest from September 26th-1st October this year in Dar El Salaam; adding that the event is for young people with speech and hearing impairments between the age of 18-35.
Madam Bangura called on all disabled organizations to be united in promoting disability issues in the country.
