Monrovia, Liberia – Outgoing UNICEF Representative to Liberia, Mr. Andrew Brooks, on Tuesday described his first arrival in the country during the height of the civil war as a terrifying experience, while lauding Liberians for their honesty and resilience as he received two certificates of honor from the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP).
The farewell ceremony, held in Monrovia, recognized Brooks’ dedicated leadership and valuable contributions to the advancement of women and children’s rights in Liberia and beyond. The date of the event, August 18, marked the 23rd anniversary of the signing of the Accra Peace Accord—a day the LCP has commemorated annually since its delegation witnessed the historic agreement in Ghana.
The Accra Peace Accord, signed on August 18, 2003, was the comprehensive peace agreement that ended Liberia’s second civil war (1999–2003), a conflict that claimed over 200,000 lives.
Reflecting on his first visit to Liberia on the same date and year, Brooks painted a vivid picture of a nation gripped by fear. “People who never have to experience the war here, they don’t understand how things are different now,” he told the gathering. “It was very tough at that time and I was here so that peace accord made a very big difference.”
While acknowledging the progress made, the outgoing envoy did not shy away from the challenges ahead. “We know the country has a lot to do. For the kids, there’s a lot of work to do,” he stated. However, he praised Liberians for their candor, saying, “I appreciate also here, compared to some other countries I’ve worked in. You can talk very honestly about things. You don’t have to sugarcoat or pretend everything is good. You just say it as it is.”
Brooks emphasized that government alone cannot fulfill the needs of Liberia’s children, citing the LCP’s grassroots engagement as essential. “I feel very full of your love and gratitude. You do what you do very well. If you can’t engage with the communities, then you will never get close to the children,” he said.
He further stressed that national development must be a collective effort. “When we talk about national, national doesn’t mean and has never meant government only, it means everybody of the nation, the citizens coming together.”
Furthermore, Brooks acknowledged the critical role of Liberian women in restoring peace. “The women of Liberia, standing up, making their voices heard,” he said, honoring their courage during the darkest days of the conflict.
LCP Honors Brooks, Recalls Historic Peace Journey
LCP Executive Director, Ambassador Juli Endee, explained that the organization deliberately chose August 18 for the ceremony to honor both Brooks’ service and the LCP’s own history. She recalled that the LCP team was present for the Accra Peace Accord signing and was airlifted back to Liberia by the Ghanaian government. Upon their return, the LCP initiated the annual Kukatonon Peace Festival to promote peace and reconciliation.
Endee lauded Brooks for his cooperation with the LCP and extended gratitude to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai for his continued support for the organization and its members.
