By: Ben TC Brooks
A moment of compassion and renewed hope unfolded in River Gee County as Sunday Bannie, a 36-year-old student living with a physical disability, finally received a wheelchair after enduring years of hardship marked by crawling to survive.
For Bannie, the wheelchair represents far more than mobility as it restores dignity, independence, and long-delayed dreams, he said.
The life-changing support was made possible through the National Lottery Authority – NLA of Liberia, under the leadership of the Deputy Director General for Operations, Mr. Christian Cooper, following persistent appeals from concerned citizens and humanitarian advocates who highlighted Bannie’s prolonged suffering.
“Today, I am very happy, and I honestly don’t know what to say,” he said tearfully. “Since 2017, when my wheelchair got damaged, I have been crawling. Receiving this wheelchair feels like a dream come true.”
For nearly eight years, Bannie says he crawled along rough roads and muddy paths just to reach neighbors, buy food, or search for work often exposing himself to injuries, infections, and social stigma.
“I thank the Government of Liberia through the National Lottery Authority for lifting me from the ground,” he said. “I crawled for years just to survive.”
He revealed that he was once enrolled at the River Gee County Vocational and Technical Training Institute, where he was learning a practical trade but the daily humiliation and physical strain of crawling to school forced him to abandon his studies.
“I used to crawl to school,” he recalled. “Before I even reached, my clothes would be completely dirty. When it rained, it was even worse. That’s why I had to stop.”
Now, with renewed confidence and hope, Bannie says he is determined to return to school. “By God’s will, I will begin again next year,” he said, wiping away tears.
A skilled metalworker, but without tools
Sunday Bannie is recognized for his talent in metalworking, specializing in the fabrication and repair of doors, cooking pots, and other household and commercial items.
Again, metalwork is not only his passion but also his sole source of income. Yet, his ability to work has been severely limited due to the lack of essential equipment, particularly a welding machine and basic tools.
“I have the skill and the passion,” Bannie told Verity News. “What I don’t have are the tools. If I can get a welding machine, I can support myself, take care of my family, and contribute meaningfully to my community.”
However, heavy family responsibilities of
Bannie’s struggles are compounded as his parents are elderly, and his father is completely blind, leaving much of the family’s survival dependent on him. He also supports his younger brother, Jerry Bannie, who recently completed high school and sat the WASSCE exams.
“My parents are old, and my father cannot see,” he said emotionally. “The hardship on me and my family is too much.”
A broader humanitarian concern on
Bannie’s story which reflects the wider challenges faced by persons living with disabilities across Liberia’s rural counties, in limited access to mobility aids, scarce employment opportunities, and weak social protection systems.
A renewed appeal for sustainable support continue, while the wheelchair has restored his mobility, Bannie says sustainable independence depends on livelihood support.
He is appealing to the government, NGOs, civil society organizations, and well-meaning Liberians to assist him with a welding machine and additional tools to revive his metalworking business.
“Please help talk to people to come to my rescue,” he pleaded. “I just want the chance to work and take care of my family.” He cried out with an double appealed.
Meanwhile, the donation of the wheelchair has not only transformed Sunday Bannie’s daily life but has also reignited his dreams of education, self-reliance, and dignity.
His life challenging story also stands as a reminder that timely compassion and targeted support can truly change lives, moving people not just from the ground, but toward hope and purpose.
