By Rufus Divine Brooks Jr.
Monrovia, Liberia – Controversy surrounding the management of funds for Liberia’s disabled community intensified on Tuesday as Samuel Dean, Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), forcefully rejected allegations of financial mismanagement following a protest staged at the Executive Mansion.
A large group of visually impaired demonstrators,
many recognized as key advocates for persons with disabilities (PWDs),
peacefully gathered to demand Dean’s dismissal and a full government investigation into his leadership. Their accusations included claims of financial misconduct and administrative negligence.
At the center of the protest was the alleged misappropriation of US$200,000, which the demonstrators claimed had been allocated by President Joseph Boakai to support programs such as vocational training and micro-grants for PWDs.
Protesters argued that the money had disappeared without delivering tangible benefits to its intended recipients.
In an exclusive interview with Verity Newspaper, Dean strongly dismissed the allegations as “baseless and politically motivated.”
He clarified that the $200,000 in question was not a personal donation from the President but part of a Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) allocation from the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP).
Dean said the funds were fairly distributed across five major counties, including Montserrado, Bong, Lofa, and Nimba, reaching nearly 5,000 individuals with disabilities nationwide.
The money, he stated, was directed toward essential needs such as food security, education, and small grants for economic empowerment.
He argued that the protest was primarily driven by Montserrado-based recipients upset over the government’s push for equitable distribution of funds, rather than favoritism toward urban centers.
“The funds were not hoarded for personal gain,” Dean asserted. “They were shared to ensure that PWDs across the country—not just in the capital—could access support for a better life.”
Dean further criticized some within the disability community for resisting efforts aimed at long-term self-reliance.
He accused certain individuals of exploiting their children for street begging, using the proceeds for personal use rather than their children’s wellbeing or education.
“Our mission is to move persons with disabilities toward self-sufficiency,” Dean said, “but we are often hindered by individuals who prefer street solicitation over engaging in sustainable programs.”
Dean emphasized that the NCD remains committed to transparency and inclusive development, despite what he described as “misguided” opposition from those seeking to centralize control over national resources.
