Reported by: Prince Saah
Monrovia, Liberia – In an effort to improve disability inclusion, Liberia has secured significant commitments from the Kingdom of Morocco. These commitments include funding for cochlear implant surgeries for ten Liberian children, specialized training for educators and therapists, and a broad partnership aimed at revolutionizing services for people with disabilities.
The commitments came after a five-person team from the Group of 77 (Liberia), an organization led by Office of the Second Lady Synleseh Stephenie Dahn-Koung that promotes the welfare and empowerment of people with disabilities, conducted a four-day technical trip. On July 17, 2026, the delegation’s historic study and coordination mission to Morocco came to an end.
The visit, which was organized by the Moroccan Agency for International Cooperation (AMCI) and made possible by Liberia’s ambassador to Morocco, Joseph F. Johnson, was centered on changing the focus of disability programs from traditional welfare approaches to institutional development and sustainable economic empowerment.
Under the direction of Senior Administrator Raymond Zarbay and Program Specialist Stephen Kumorteh, the group had high-level meetings with top Moroccan organizations that focus on inclusive development, social protection, and disability services.
Ambassador Johnson called the visit a turning point in Liberia-Morocco relations during the formal debriefing. “This visit has been an exceptional demonstration of the bilateral camaraderie between Liberia and Morocco. The energy and strategic insights generated here must be sustained as we build a clear, action-oriented blueprint for our nations,” he said.
One of the mission’s most significant outcomes was Morocco’s commitment, through the Foundation Lalla Asma for Deaf Children, to support cochlear implant surgeries for 10 Liberian children, subject to medical coordination in Liberia. Along with providing wheelchairs and other assistance technology for the Group of 77, the relationship also involves teaching American Sign Language (ASL) and speech therapy for Liberian instructors.
Additionally, the delegation interacted with the National Union of Moroccan Women (UNFM), whose members looked at effective initiatives that have assisted vulnerable women in moving from reliance on social aid to entrepreneurship through product development, business support, and vocational training.
The Liberian team visited the Association for Medical and Mental Disability Integration to study Morocco’s approach to supporting persons with Down syndrome, intellectual disabilities and other neurodevelopmental conditions. The delegation saw initiatives that help recipients find fulfilling jobs and integrate into the workforce during their visit.
The Group of 77’s long-term goal of building a 25-acre inclusive residential, educational, and medical complex in Montserrado County for people with disabilities is anticipated to be supported by the visit. Liberia and Morocco agreed to create a framework for bilateral cooperation, arrange reciprocal expert visits, and form a Joint Technical Working Group with representatives from AMCI, the Group of 77, and diplomatic officials from both nations in order to guarantee the implementation of the commitments made during the mission.
The Moroccan government, AMCI, His Majesty King Mohammed VI, and the Moroccan people were thanked by the Liberian delegation for their hospitality and dedication to promoting disability inclusion through South-South collaboration. The team did, however, also praise the Liberian Embassy in Morocco for organizing what it called a historic diplomatic and development trip.
