Boakai Pays Tribute to ‘Champions of Democracy’ -Says They Shed Tears, Sweat, Blood for Liberia

MONROVIA: Africa’s oldest republic celebrated its 177th Independence Day Anniversary last Friday, July 26, and the incumbent head of state and commander-in-chief—the 26th President of Liberia, Joseph Nyuma Boakai—used the occasion to inspire citizens to work towards greater, better opportunities and the prospects ahead despite setbacks over the decades. In the daunting struggle for self-determination and subsequent freedom and democracy prevailing in the country, something contemporary Liberians are lavishly feeding on and enjoying, the Liberian leader gave credit to the forebears and founders of the country, particularly to those who labored, shed tears and spared their lives for the attainment of pluralistic democracy. The Analyst reports.

Amid widespread public outcries about longtime political failure, and about current prevailing socioeconomic hardships amongst ordinary Liberians, the reigning leader of 177-year-old Liberia has been cheering up citizens with reassuring declarations bordering “better days ahead”, and motivating the people to keep their heads up, remain hopeful and trustful about their country’s transformation and progress.

Delivering his Independence Day remarks at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, the Liberian leader also paid tribute to Liberia’s founding fathers and those who made democracy and stability possible after independence.

“As we celebrate the 177th anniversary of our independence, we honor and remember the sacrifices of those who came before us, including the founding fathers who envisioned a land of freedom, liberty, and justice,” said President Boakai.

He added: “We also pay tribute to the champions of democracy who followed.

By their sweat, tears, and blood, we were bequeathed a new culture of democracy that is holding its own and celebrated by the world.”

He remembered ordinary Liberians who he said are ‘catching the hell’ due to economic hardship in the country.

Boakai said: “As we look around, we see that not everyone can enjoy the freedom and sovereignty that our independence promises. Many people still suffer from hunger, homelessness, illness, poverty, and injustice.”

The President quipped, “What good is our freedom and independence when so many of our fellow citizens are struggling?” but noted that “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.”

According to him, “history has placed us at the confluence of a turbulent past and a hopeful and prosperous future.”

“We either look back and do business the way we have done it for decades and fail our people, or look forward, setting our face like a flint in an onward march to transform our country despite our historical challenges and other foundational problems,” he said.

The Chief Executive acknowledged that Liberia is a country with a rich history, but it has been slow to progress, adding, “We have the chance to change the direction of our country and move away from the self-imposed struggles we have faced since gaining independence 177 years ago.”

Liberia has great potential, he further noted, warning that “it’s our responsibility as the current generation to take advantage of this opportunity and improve our country so that everyone has a better chance at a good life”.

He thanked fellow citizens for the opportunity given him to serve as their leader “during this crucial time, caught between a challenging past and a hopeful future.”

Boakai said he sees the current state of things in the country’s 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,” he vowed stressing that “now is the time for us to come together and use our collective strengths to propel Liberia towards an inclusive future. The decisions we make today will leave a lasting impact for generations to come.”

For too long, he stressed, Liberia has faced challenges that have divided citizens, with historical structural barriers making it difficult for a large segment of the population, especially those in the interior of the country to access services, curtailing their ability to earn and sustain respectable livelihoods.

Boakai further acknowledged that such a structure of the country’s economy has led to significant inequality, which has fueled social tensions and conflicts, with only a small group of people exploiting government for their personal gain.

“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,” President Boakai said, cautioning citizens: “As we gather in this grand hall built to celebrate one hundred years of our existence, we must 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.”

He emphasized that building a new Liberia should not be just a dream but that everyone should promise themselves and future generations to work toward creating a nation where every citizen can prosper.

“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,” the President urged his citizens.

“It also means providing healthcare that reaches every corner of our nation, preventing unnecessary suffering and deaths from preventable diseases. With our resolve to build a Liberia for all, this should not be a problem.”

He said it also entails creating employment opportunities with fair wages, lifting families out of poverty, and empowering Liberian entrepreneurs to innovate and grow.

“The new Liberia must prioritize inclusivity, allowing citizens to participate fully in the decision-making process that affects their well-being,” he asserted, but advised that building that new Liberia is not just about the infrastructure to build and the policies to draw up.

“It is also about fostering a culture of unity and respect. It is about celebrating our diversity as a source of strength, not division. It is about listening to each other, learning from our past, and forging a future where every Liberian can contribute their talents and ideas to our collective success,” he said.

According to him, Liberians are at a crucial moment in their nation’s history, 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.

“Let’s work towards creating a country we can be proud to pass on to future generations,” he added. “Today as a grateful nation we stand before God to thank Him for forging and sustaining our country which holds so much promise for the future despite having gone through great adversity in the past.”

He told Liberians that “as we vigorously pursue our developmental agenda, we view this new mindset of a shared commitment to building a new Liberia for all Liberians, as a driving force behind the formulation of the new national development plan for the next five years.”

This plan, he noted, which is expected to cap Vision 2030 and help drive the country toward building a capable state responsive to the needs of our people, “will and must require us to work together for the common good.”

He thanked Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Senate Pro Tempore, the Chief Justice and Justices of the Supreme Court, the leaders of the Christian and Muslim communities, the representatives of the various youth groups in the country, and the National Commission on Disabilities, the women group for their cooperation and insightful engagement during these dialogues.

He called on all Liberians to seize this once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a new Liberia for all Liberians, where every citizen can have the opportunity to flourish.

“We cannot ask for more or less, and we must not fail our people and generations to come,” he said. “The path ahead may not be easy, but with determination and solidarity, we can leap into a future where Liberia shines brightly on the global stage.”

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