The Deputy Commissioner of National Commission for Social Action (NaCSA), Sir Jimmy Batilo Songa has addressed a group of persons with disabilities on the Social Safety Nets (SSN) Project which ended in June 2023.

It could be recalled that the SSN provided direct cash transfers to over 98,000 households across the country. The persons with disabilities were part of the beneficiary categories who received cash from both the normal SSN and the Covid-19 Emergency Cash Transfers.

However, regardless of the continued engagement with beneficiaries relating to the project duration, persons with disability were anticipating another tranche payment.

It was on this basis that NaCSA’s Deputy Commissioner paid a courtesy call to provide detailed information on the status of the SSN and the ongoing Productive Social Safety Net and Youth Employment (PSSNYE) project. Having listened to the concerns raised by the representatives, the Deputy Commissioner noted that “the SSN has been concluded thus, the end of all cash transfer. The recent tranche was the last and final intervention. Going forward, we have introduced the PSSNYE project of which the persons with disabilities will be deliberately targeted”, he stated.

He assured them of the government’s commitment to addressing the welfare of persons with disabilities, adding the they will continue to work with the Sierra Leone Union on Disabilities Issues and the National Commission for Persons with Disability.

“On behalf of His Excellency, Dr. Julius Maada Bio, be rest assured that you are a critical part of our national development framework. All aspirations outlined in the new development plan will be fully implemented,” He concluded.

In response to this, the persons with Disability stakeholders expressed their sincere thanks to the Deputy Commissioner for providing the needed information. They also thank the President and his government for an inclusive development agenda.