President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has called on Liberians 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.
Speaking on this year’s theme: The Liberian leader stated that Building a new Liberia should not be just a dream; but the people must promise themselves and future generations to work toward creating a nation where every citizen can prosper.
The new Liberia, he urged his people 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.
Additionally, he said it also means providing healthcare that reaches every corner of the nation, preventing unnecessary suffering and deaths from preventable diseases with its resolve to build a Liberia for all, this should not be a problem.
Moreover, it 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 said.
He indicated that building the new Liberia is not just about the infrastructure they will build but the policies they will 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 added.
According to him, the array of accomplished Liberians in different stations of professional and social life honored at the recent investiture ceremony is an example, a testament, and a poignant reminder of the rich depth of diversity that can be harnessed in building the new Liberia nothing that is why Liberians must stand united, determined to create a new society where justice prevails, where opportunity abounds, and where the dignity of every Liberian is upheld.
He informed the gathering that his Government has been engaging in discussions with various stakeholders of the society, including leaders from other branches of government, youth groups, women groups, people with disabilities, and the Christian and Muslim communities.
“These conversations – to be held regularly – are aimed at promoting dialogue and cooperation, they are meant to respect our differences and each other’s perspectives and find areas of common ground”, President Boakai said .
He stated that the goal is to reduce divisive rhetoric and come together to work towards building the new Liberia that we all aspire to.
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, which is expected to cap Vision 2030 and help drive us 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 re-emphasized.
He thanked the 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.
“Together, let us 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 noted.
He stressed that the path ahead may not be easy, but with determination and solidarity, they can leap into a future where Liberia shines brightly on the global stage.
“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. We also pay tribute to the champions of democracy who followed and 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 added.
“As we look around, we see that not everyone can enjoy the freedom and sovereignty that our independence promises as many people still suffer from hunger, homelessness, illness, poverty, and injustice”, he noted.
He wonder why good is the freedom and independence when so many of his citizens are struggling.
It is time, the Liberian leader pointed out for his people to embrace the true values of freedom and work together to provide opportunities for every Liberian to live a dignified life in their own Country.
According to him the Country is at a crucial moment and the people 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 stating further by encouraging all to work towards creating a country that the people can be proud to pass on to future generations.
He stressed that history has placed Liberia 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.
President Boakai acknowledged that Liberia is a country with a rich history, but it has been slow to progress.
Speaking further he intuned that the people have the chance to change the direction of their country and move away from the self-imposed struggles they have faced since gaining independence 177 years ago.
Liberia he told the gathering has great potential, and it’s our responsibility as the current generation to take advantage of such opportunity and improve the country so that everyone has a better chance at a good life.
“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”, he noted.
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai speaking at his first independence day celebration as head of State of Liberia pledge his personal commitment and that of his Government to provide the space for all to work together across political, economic, and social divides to bring about positive change for all.
He urged his people that now is the time for them to come together and use their collective strengths to propel Liberia towards an inclusive future stating that the decisions they make today will leave a lasting impact for generations to come.
The theme for this year’s independence celebrations, “Building a New Liberia for All Liberians,”he said cannot be more appropriat.
The Chief Executive noted that for so long Liberia has faced challenges that have divided its people.
Making reference to historical structural barriers, he disclosed that it has not only made it difficult for a large segment of the population, especially those in the interior of the country to access services; they have curtailed their ability to earn and sustain respectable livelihoods.
He admitted that the structure of the Country’s economy has led to significant inequality, which has fueled social tensions and conflicts.
Furthermore, a small group of people have exploited the government for their personal gain and 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.
