By : P Uriah Suah suahuriah86@gmail.com
Monrovia, Liberia – In a landmark moment for disability advocacy, Liberia on Tuesday hosted its first-ever Inclusive Africa Conference Watch Party, bringing global conversations on digital accessibility, assistive technology, and disability inclusion to a local stage. The event was held at the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD) Office in Congo Town, in partnership with Kenya-based inABLE Organization and coordinated by the Alliance on Disability in Liberia.
The event welcomed over 30 participants from a cross-section of civil society, including the Campaigners Against Misinformation and Disinformation in Liberia (CAMDL), National Union of Organizations for the Disabled (NUOD), NCD, and international NGOs operating in Liberia.
Serving as a moderator was Mr. Taweh Johnson, Executive Director of CAMDL, who delivered the opening remarks and facilitated live discussions from the virtual conference sessions.
Johnson emphasized the importance of Liberia’s inclusion in such global forums and noted that this was the first time the country was participating in the Inclusive Africa Conference.
“We are proud to be part of this initiative,” said Johnson. “This partnership not only showcases Liberia’s commitment to the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities but also marks a turning point for the digital empowerment of persons with disabilities in Liberia.”
Addressing the gathering, Samuel Deng, Chairperson of the NCD, called on stakeholders to prioritize digital innovation and invest in assistive technologies.
“We must align ourselves with international best practices in accessibility,” he said, adding that local projects, including a cocktail initiative for assistive technology, are already identifying students and innovators in the field.
The event also featured an emotional and uplifting engagement from participants living with disabilities. Many expressed joy and pride at being represented at an international platform for the first time, describing the watch party as a milestone in their lifelong advocacy journeys.
One participant shared: “This is the first international update I’ve had since I entered the advocacy space in 2005. It gives me hope and motivation.”
The Alliance on Disability in Liberia, composed of international NGOs and local partners, is committed to ensuring Liberia upholds its obligations under the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities.
The successful hosting of the watch party marked a major step forward in that mission.As conversations around inclusion continue to grow globally, Liberia’s engagement in the Inclusive Africa Conference 2025 has firmly positioned the country in ongoing efforts to create a digitally inclusive future for all.
