Gambiaj.com – (BANJUL, The Gambia) – The Member for Wuli East, Hon. Suwaibou Touray, has asked the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Welfare, Fatou Kinteh, to provide details on how the government’s annual D4 million allocation to the National Fund for Persons with Disabilities is being spent.
Touray raised the question on Wednesday during Questions for Oral Answers at the National Assembly, as Minister Kinteh responded to questions on the implementation of the Persons with Disabilities Act, 2021.
Minister Kinteh told lawmakers that the government has allocated D4 million annually to the fund since 2024 to support disability-related interventions.
She said the funding has been used to support organisations of persons with disabilities, including the National Advisory Council for Persons with Disabilities and the Gambia Federation of the Disabled, as well as programmes aimed at improving the welfare and participation of persons with disabilities.
Lawmakers Request Spending Details
Following the minister’s explanation, lawmakers sought further information on how the funds had been distributed and used.
Hon. Lamin Ceesay, Member for Kiang West, asked the minister to provide the Assembly with disbursement records and evidence of expenditure. The Member for Sami also requested details of beneficiaries by region.
Other lawmakers asked about the procedures and criteria through which persons with disabilities and their organizations can access the fund.
Minister Kinteh said she did not have the detailed figures available at the time but committed to providing the information to the National Assembly as an additional response.
Implementation of Disability Act
The questions came as the minister outlined progress in implementing the Persons with Disabilities Act, including the establishment of the National Advisory Council and its secretariat, rehabilitation services, and the provision of assistive devices.
The 2021 Act provides a legal framework for protecting and promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. It covers areas including social support, rehabilitation, education, employment, accessibility, and participation in public life.
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