MoTWI Reaffirms Dedication to Inclusiveness in Highway Entry –
By Aminata Sanneh
Information Officer, MOTWI
The Director of Transport on the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure (MoTWI), Sainabou Houma, has reaffirmed the federal government’s dedication to making sure that members of the general public, together with visually impaired individuals, have equal entry to protected and high-quality roads.
Ms. Houma made this comment, on Tuesday, October 15 2024 in the course of the commemoration of World White Cane Safety Day, held in Brikama and arranged by the Gambia Association of Visually Impaired.
The authorities of The Gambia, she stated, “is fully committed to addressing road safety by taking the necessary actions to enhance the safety and mobility of all road users, especially those with visual impairments,” Director Houma said.
Speaking on this 12 months’s White Cane Safety Day theme – Create Space for White Cane Users, she highlighted the profound significance of the occasion whereas underscoring the necessity for collective accountability amongst stakeholders to make sure that highway networks and public areas are accessible, protected, and inclusive for all—particularly for these which can be visually impaired.
“The White Cane is not merely a tool, but a symbol of independence, mobility, and resilience. It represents the determination of visually impaired individuals to navigate their environments with confidence and dignity. As a society, we must create an environment where this independence can truly flourish,” she emphasised.
Ms. Houma acknowledged that there are works nonetheless stays to be performed thus challenges nonetheless exist in making certain that highway networks are totally accessible regardless of the progress that has been made to enhance accessibility.
whereas progress has been made in enhancing accessibility, a lot work stays to be performed, as challenges nonetheless exist in making certain that highway networks are totally accessible.
She famous that the Ministry of Transport, Works, and Infrastructure is actively creating insurance policies and rules to boost highway accessibility and promotion of security for all customers. “We are working closely with relevant authorities to designate safe crossing zones and make public transport more accessible to visually impaired individuals,” she revealed.
“The Ministry believes that accessibility is not a privilege but a fundamental human right. We are determined to turn this vision into reality,” Ms. Houma affirmed whereas underscoring the federal government’s dedication to inclusivity as outlined in Pillar 6 of the Recovery-Focused National Development Plan (RF-NDP), which focuses on Empowerment, Social Inclusion, and Leaving No One Behind.
The Chairperson of the Gambia Organisation for the Visually Impaired (GOVI) additionally spoke on the occasion, highlighting the significance of entry to know-how, infrastructure, and good highway networks as basic elements of human rights and growth.
The Chairperson, due to this fact, urged the Ministry of Transport to sensitize business car drivers to be aware of visually impaired pedestrians and in addition appealed to the general public to help White Cane customers by guiding them on the highway.
The occasion was attended by the Deputy Governor of West Coast Region, the Deputy Chairman of Brikama Area Council, representatives from the Ministry of Gender, and members of GOVI, amongst others.
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