18/08/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CENTER FOR DISABILITIES RIGHTS INC. (CEDRI) & PROFESSIONAL ADVOCATES FOR DISABILITIES INCLUSION (PADI), 2 DISABILITIES CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANIZATION CALLS FOR THE IMMEDIATE DISMISSAL OF MR. AARON WRIGHT AS ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES, DESCRIBED HIS INDEFINITE ACTING LEADERSHIP ROLE AT THE COMMISSION A VIOLATION OF THE ACT ESTABLISHING THE NATIONAL COMMISSION ON DISABILITIES
The Center for Disabilities Rights Inc. (CEDRI) and Professional Advocates for Disabilities Inclusion (PADI), respectfully call on His Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia, to immediately dismiss Mr. Aaron Wright from his position as Acting Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), and appoint a competent person with disabilities,in fulfillment of the Spirit and Intent of the Act Establishing the Commission to provide governance space for persons with disabilities.
The National Commission on Disabilities Act clearly provides that the Executive Director and Deputy Executive Directors of the Commission shall be persons with disabilities and/or specialists in the field of disability affairs. Mr. Wright neither identifies as a person with a disability nor possesses any publicly known qualifications or professional specialization in disability rights, disability inclusion, or disability administration. His prolonged tenure in an acting capacity, without meeting the qualifications envisioned by the Act, is a complete violation of the Act establishing the commission .
Furthermore, following the suspension of former Executive Director Mr. Samuel Dean over allegations of corruption, the public was informed that an audit of the institution would be conducted. More than six months later, there has been no publicly available conclusion or report on the status of that audit. Instead of prioritizing transparency, accountability, and institutional reform, the Commission continues to operate under an acting leadership whose administration has yet to address the concerns that led to the suspension of its former head.
We are equally troubled by reports of recruitment of more than 10 consultants within the Commission that have largely excluded qualified persons with disabilities. Since assuming the role of Acting Executive Director, Mr. Wright has reportedly recruited approximately ten consultants. We within the disability community have questioned the relevance and impact of these appointments, especially when these new roles offered no specific impact to effectively serving the community of persons with disabilities, and particularly at a time when educated and qualified Liberians with disabilities remain unemployed and underrepresented in public institutions. These decisions are gravely worrisome and raised concern regarding Mr. Wright understanding about persons with disabilities competency, inclusion, and the equitable use of public resources.
Mr. Wright has also overseen decisions that raise serious concerns about his understanding of disability inclusion and accessibility principles. These concerns include the procurement of a bus that is completely inaccessible to persons with certain disabilities, the relocation to a headquarters facility that reportedly lacks adequate accessibility features, and the expenditure of more than US$30,000 on a six-county tour while pressing institutional and service-delivery challenges remain unresolved. Such actions have left we advocates with disabilities questioning whether the Commission's leadership truly understands and prioritizes the needs of the community it is mandated to serve.
The disability community deserves leadership that is lawful, accountable, competent, and representative of the people it was established to serve.
In view of the above and forth going, we have written 2 separate letters to the office of the President to intervene in the matter at hand.
Today, we reiterate our call for the immediate dismissal of Mr. Aaron Wright, Acting Executive Director of the National Commission on Disabilities (NCD), and urge President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. to appoint a qualified, credible, and capable person with a disability to lead the institution.
We wish to inform the public that, on two separate occasions, letters were formally submitted to the Office of the President regarding our concerns about the leadership and management of the National Commission on Disabilities. However, it now appears that our letters have been blocked from reaching the President. Having exhausted these formal channels without receiving the necessary attention, we are left with no option but to intensify our advocacy.
As a result, we will carry out a peaceful sit in in action at the Executive Mansion in August 31, 2026, to bring our concerns directly to the attention of the President and demand meaningful action on the leadership crisis at the National Commission on Disabilities.
Additionally, a formal letter was submitted to the Ministry of Justice last month concerning these matters, but we have yet to receive any response. We therefore call on the relevant authorities to take our concerns seriously and provide a timely response.
We further call on President Boakai to consider the appointment of a Disability Adviser within the Office of the President. Such an appointment would provide the Presidency with direct expertise and advice on disability rights, inclusion, accessibility, and the effective implementation of Liberia's commitments to persons with disabilities.
The National Commission on Disabilities is a critical institution established to protect and advance the rights and interests of persons with disabilities. Its leadership must therefore reflect the principles of competence, credibility, accountability, representation, and inclusion.
We believe that appointing a qualified person with a disability to head the Commission would restore public confidence, strengthen the institution's legitimacy, and reaffirm the Government's commitment to the principle of “Nothing about Us without Us.”
We remain committed to peaceful, lawful, and constructive advocacy and call on the Government to engage with the disability community and address these concerns in good faith.
Signed:
Center for Disabilities Rights Inc. (CEDRI)
&
Professional Advocates for Disabilities Inclusion (PADI)CEDRI TV
