By Nasratu Kargbo
Representing Christian Union for the Blind and Visually Impaired (CUBVI), Mohamed Samuel Fullah has called on the Parliament of Sierra Leone to consider people who are blind by producing braille versions of all national documents.
Fullah made this call on the 7th June 2022 during the final launch of nationwide dissemination and sensitization of the SLEITI 2019 report on extractives which has a braille version. He said they see themselves as partners in nation-building and emphasized that the constitution and all other national documents should be made available in braille.
He noted that they can boast of being citizens if they know happenings in the country, by reading informative documents easily through the system for people who are blind.
“The EITI has expanded their scope by including persons living with disability,” said Fullah. He expressed gratitude to the institution, for having the 2019 report on extractives, in braille. He stated that the document, the first to be transcribed into braille, has helped in keeping them informed on happenings in the mines industry.
He told journalists after the programme, he’s been reaching out to parliamentarians as policymakers to set the pace for their realization of key documents in braille.
Asked whether it is the first time they have made such a call, Fullah explained that they have held several engagements, revealing that they had even written letters to parliament.
Responding to the question of whether they have any other document in brail aside from the EITI document, Fullah said they only have the Child Rights Act. He explained that the Act was transcribed by the Educational Centre for the Blind and Visually Impaired in 2007. “Other than that, we have not had any national document in braille”, he said.
Speaking during the programme, the National Coordinator for National Advocacy Coalition on Extractives (NACE) Cecelia Mattia said that it is the second time EITI has ensured that its documents are presented in braille version, but admitted it had cost more in expenses.
She revealed that she had earlier before the start of the event engaged the Minister of Mines and Mineral Resources Timothy Kabba on the idea of scouting for resources so that once the Mines and Minerals Development bill is passed into law, it would be transcribed into braille.
Mattia was however quick to state their organization cannot promise to take up that venture now as it is difficult to get funds.
Africa Centre for Energy Policy funded the braille transcribing of the report on extractives.
Copyright © 2022 Politico Online (10/06/22)
