Monrovia, Liberia – The Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), Samuel S. Dean, has dismissed a protest by members of the visually impaired community as a “staged performance” orchestrated by what he described as “a handful of blind street beggars,” rather than a genuine call for accountability.
The protest erupted on Tuesday outside the Executive Mansion in Monrovia, where dozens of visually impaired Liberians gathered to demand transparency and accountability for an alleged mismanagement of US$200,000 reportedly intended to support disability empowerment programs.
In a strongly worded statement issued Wednesday, Dean rejected the allegations and accused unnamed individuals of attempting to tarnish his reputation through what he called “falsehoods and political manipulation.”
“The demonstration was not a protest — it was a performance,” Dean declared. “These were not advocates for accountability but extortionists and political opportunists seeking attention.”
He vehemently denied claims of embezzlement and dismissed reports that the disputed funds were a personal donation from President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
“That is a lie. There was no personal donation from President Boakai,” Dean stated.
According to him, the funds were allocated through the Public Sector Investment Program (PSIP) under the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning, earmarked for the NCD Economic Empowerment Grant Scheme.
Dean said the program is designed to support persons with disabilities across five counties — Montserrado, Bong, Nimba, Lofa, and Grand Bassa — through initiatives in entrepreneurship, skills training, agribusiness, and education for students with disabilities or children of disabled parents.
“This is not a cash handout program. It’s a blueprint for transformation,” he said, adding that the project is focused on sustainability and empowerment rather than one-time financial disbursements.
Addressing criticism over the purchase of a project vehicle, Dean clarified that the car was procured legally for official use to facilitate service delivery.
“That vehicle remains a tool of service, not a symbol of indulgence,” he emphasized.
The Executive Director’s remarks have sparked fresh debate among disability-rights advocates, some of whom insist that transparency within the NCD remains a major concern. Advocacy groups have called on the government and civil society to intervene to ensure that public funds earmarked for vulnerable communities are used properly. As the controversy unfolds, many within the disability community say they await concrete actions — not words — to restore trust between the NCD and those it was created to serve.
