Sierra Leone’s Minister of Social Welfare, Melrose Karminty has on the 8th April , 2024 engaged members from the Sierra Leone Union on Disability Issues-SLUDI ahead of their general election. 

The meeting focused on the time of the pending election of the Presidential and other Executive positions.

It was reported that the union has been challenged with confusion that led to one faction taking SLUDI Executive to court to restore sernity.

The Minister who has prioritized the issues of disability had held several meetings with organisations of Persons with Disabilities (OPDs) which lead to the signing of a communique two months ago with a view of settling their indifference and conducting a free, fair and credible elections.

The Minister revealed that, her participation in the just ended Commission on the Status of Women Conference held in NewYork America has been very enormous adding that discussions around disability issues were key among many other issues discussed.

She also notified them that there are ongoing plans with key players to see how they could support disability issues through her Ministry.

She acknowledged the importance of the meeting which incorporated a serious engagement, critic the ongoing electoral process as well as give positive input that could make the process successful adding that neither SLUDI nor her Ministry has all the answers as they prepare for the elections hence the need for their input. She also said that it was natural for them to disagree to agree with the focus of putting their differences aside and work in the best interest of the disabled family.

She confirmed total commitment to ensuring that every plans and actions in the signed communique be implemented.

She called on members to raise up issues or doubts they have so they could be clarified to avoid further issues.