BFF, Kofi Annan Institute Convene 58th National Unification Dialogue In Monrovia -As Expert Panelists Set To Pinpoint Remedies To Drug Abuse, Proliferation & Addiction
The Better Future Foundation (BFF), Civil Society proponent of Liberia’s Democracy Sustainability Platform (DSP), in collaboration with the Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation (KAICT) of the University of Liberia (UL), will on Wednesday, May 18, 2022, hold a High-level Panel Discussion in Commemoration of the 58th National Unification Day Program on the Capitol Hill Main Campus of the University of Liberia in Monrovia.
According to a press release issued by the organization, copy of which was sent to The Analyst, Rev. Augustine S. Arkoi, Founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Better Future Foundation (BFF), Dr. D. Evelyn S. Kandakai, former Minister of Education, and renowned educator Sister Mary Laurene Browne, OSF, will serve as co-conveners of the National Unification Day Program.
The release said this year’s Unification Day Celebration, which has, as its Theme: “Reconciling Liberia for the 21st Century: Understanding the Current State of Drugs Proliferation, Abuse, and Addiction and Its Implications in Sustaining Peace and Democracy in Liberia,” will witness the participation of an array of distinguished personalities, scholars and intellectuals from both the public and private sectors as well as Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), political parties, and community citizens of the 16-member countries of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Liberian traditional and religious leaders, student community, among others.
It further said Prof. Adam M. Kyne, Executive Director, A.M. Kyne Collegiate Resource Center based in Monrovia will make an Expert Presentation on the Sub-Theme: “Understanding Drugs Addiction Among Citizens” while the panelists will include representatives of the ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), the former governing Unity Party (UP), Alternative National Congress (ANC), Rainbow Alliance, and the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) while Professor T. Debey Sayndee, Director of Kofi Annan Institute for Conflict Transformation of the University of Liberia (UL), will serve as the Moderator of the panel discussion. A senior-level representative of the Liberia Drugs Enforcement Agency (LDEA), will make brief remarks bordering on the fight against drug abuse, proliferation, and addiction in the country.
Invocation for the National Unification Day will be conducted by the Rt. Rev./ Dr. James B. Sellee, Bishop Coadjutor, Episcopal Church of Liberia while Goodwill Messages are expectedfrom the Government of Liberia (GOL), and the United Nations System in Liberia.
“The National Unification Day program which seeks to highlight and discuss the primary factors contributing to, and influencing drugs abuse, proliferation and addiction is being held in the face of the prevailing and current state of socio-economic climate and challenges, particularly the unfavorable political discords involving some of the major national stakeholders, while the country is rapidly falling prey to drugs proliferation, abuse and addiction, especially among the nation’s youthful population, which is indeed a destabilizing factor for Liberia’s unity and peace consolidation.
“Moreover, empirical research has shown that Political Will is a key necessity to successfully tackling drug proliferation, abuse and addiction in Liberia. In view of the above, according to a release issued by the Better Future Foundation (BFF) and its collaborating institutions, a panel of high-level professional and political institutions is expected to discuss the theme, seeking to drink from their reservoirs of knowledge and wisdom to proffer possible solutions to the challenges that pose dangers to our collective security and peaceful coexistence in Liberia and the ECOWAS subregion”, the release said.
The release also indicated that the propounded recommendations will be compiled and shared with an array of civil society and community-based organizations to be used as tools of advocacy within the local communities to help alleviate the overwhelming threats of drugs proliferation, abuse and addiction confronting the Liberian nation.
Prayers for National Unification, Healing, Peace & Reconciliation would be led by Apostle Samuel B. Carr, President of the Liberia Full Gospel Fellowship of Ministries; and Imam Abdullah G. Mansaray, Chairman, Inter-religious Council of Liberia while the closing remarks will be delivered by Cllr. Mark M.M. Marvey, Managing Partner, Beyond Law Chambers who is also Chairman of the Board of Directors, Better Future Foundation (BFF).
The Better Future Foundation (BFF), a nonstate actor, and advocate of the regional integration of ECOWAS, is a civil society organization dedicated to the postwar reconstruction and development of Liberia. BFF’s mission primarily involves initiating programs and activities aimed at promoting socio-economic, educational, international cultural understanding and cooperation.
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