-As Liberia clocks 177yrs
By: G Bennie Bravo Johnson I
President Joseph Nyumah Boakai has called on national stakeholders and Liberians in general to redefine the purpose of the nation’s existence as an independent state by working together to create an enabling environment where all Liberian would have the opportunity to live a dignified life.
“What good is our freedom and independence when so many of our fellow citizens are struggling? It’s time for us to embrace the true values of freedom and work together to provide opportunities for every Liberian to live a dignified life in our country.”
The Liberian Leader made the call when he delivered an address at the 177th Independence Day celebration held at the centennial pavilion on Friday, July 26, 2024.
He asserted that the nation is at a crucial moment with a rare opportunity to come together and truly embody the meaning of freedom, and to build a nation that reflects the diversity of Liberia. Therefore, wants Liberians to work towards creating a country that this generation will be proud to pass on to future generations.
“We are at a crucial moment in our nation’s history. We have a rare opportunity to come together and truly embody the meaning of freedom, and to build a nation that reflects the diversity of Liberia. Let’s work towards creating a country we can be proud to pass on to future generations,” he said.
President Boaksi intimated that history has placed the nation at the confluence of a turbulent past and a hopeful and prosperous future. He noted that Liberians either look back and do business the way it has been done for decades and fail the people, or look forward, setting the nation’s face like a flint in an onward march to transform the country despite its historical challenges and other foundational problems.
President Boakai continued by asserting that Liberia is a country with a rich history, but it has been slow to progress. But added that Liberians now have the chance to change the direction of the country and move away from the self-imposed struggles faced since gaining independence 177 years ago.
Furthermore, he expressed confidence in the potential of Liberians and emphasized that it’s the responsibility of the current generation to take advantage of the opportunity and improve the country so that everyone has a better chance at a good life.
As the leader of Liberia during this crucial time where the nation is caught between a challenging past and a hopeful future, he expressed his anticipation that this moment in history has a turning point to leap with faith, as the country strives to transition from the past to the future.
Therefore, he pledged his commitment that his Government will provide the space to work together across all divides to bring about positive change for all.
“My fellow citizens, I am grateful for the opportunity to serve as the leader of our country during this crucial time, caught between a challenging past and a hopeful future. I see this moment in our history as a turning point to leap with faith, as we strive to transition from the past to the future. Today, I pledge my personal commitment and that of my Government to provide the space for us to work together across political, economic, and social divides to bring about positive change for all.”
Moreover, he asserted that it is now the time to come together and use collective strengths to propel Liberia towards an inclusive future. He asserted that the decisions made today will leave a lasting impact for generations to come.
Therefore, it is the reason for which this year’s theme for the independence celebrations is “Building a New Liberia for All Liberians.”
He added that historical structural barriers have not only made it difficult for a large segment of the Liberian population, especially those in the interior of the country to access services; but it has caused them to curtail their ability to earn and sustain respectable livelihoods.
The President stated that the structure of the economy has led to significant inequality, which has fueled social tensions and conflicts. Further asserting that a small group of people have exploited the government for their personal gain.
President Boakai added that these and many other factors have contributed to tensions, creating divisions in society based on wealth, class, ethnicity, and other factors that lead to conflicts. Therefore, he wants stakeholders to strive to show a unified vision and a strong commitment to building a new Liberia that includes all Liberians, regardless of ethnic group, religion, or circumstances.
Moreso, he mandated that building a new Liberia should not be just a dream; but wants Liberians to promise themselves and the future generations to work toward creating a nation where every citizen can prosper.
He asserted that the new Liberia must be a society where every citizen has equal educational opportunities, ensuring that every child has access to quality education regardless of their location in the country by providing healthcare that reaches every corner of the nation, preventing unnecessary suffering and deaths from preventable diseases.
