Independence Day Message

Stephen Johnson

My fellow citizens….

I bring you warm felicitations as we celebrate yet another year of independence! I am delighted not merely because today makes Liberia 164 years but because I am grateful to God Almighty to be alive in this generation and have the strength to contribute my professional quota towards the development of our common patrimony, Liberia . This celebration calls for a time of sober reflection on our history that is plunged with seas of internal contradictions.

We should use the as a period to also do a comprehensive analysis in realizing where we have come from, where we are and where to hope to go as a people with one voice. It is a time for us also to do an inventory of the many successes, failures and challenges we have both as individuals and as Liberians in general.

We must begin to address the fundamental question; what can I do to help my country? We must also indentify ways in which we can emancipate our country from years of degradation and underdevelopment to a pinnacle of development, long lasting peace and above all, grassroots exhilaration-I must commend the present government for taking the lead.

We must reinvigorate ourselves with the fortitude and courage to effectuate the much needed changes that would propel a robustly radical paradigm shift. We also must do a fair assessment of ourselves taking into consideration our assets and liabilities and derive a net-worth that can be harnessed for the betterment of Liberia . This should be our focus and this should be the drive which leads us as we go through the festivities.

Let us remember, that the road towards nation building and national renewal is rocky, steep and difficult to navigate but in unity and with one voice, this herculean task can be attained. Let us also remember to care for one another, show love where there is hate, compassion where there is sorrow and help a fallen comrade when you can.

Let us pray for Liberia especially in the coming months and most importantly as we go to the polls to make a decision to determine who steers our country for the next six years. Let us also pray for those that are sick, bereaved and going through times of difficulties and let us also pray for our leaders so that God will grant them the wisdom and courage as they lead us.

Towards this end, my family and I wish you all a Happy Independence and God’s richest blessing upon you all remembering that in union strong, success is sure.

May the Lord Almighty bless the works of our hands and save the state!

Liberia after 164 years: Ellen, A promise fulfilled

When many thought that Liberia would remain a failed state and that the possibility of regaining its prewar status was highly unlikely, Ellen showed up. When many thought that Liberia would never be a place for us Liberians to be proud of and call home, Ellen has given us multiple reasons to be proud of our country. When many thought that Liberia would sink under her leadership, she proved them wrong and Liberia is rising.

When many thought that our debts would be a life time burden for our future generation to be in credit before their birth, Ellen successfully lobbied with the international community to give a 4.9Billion debt waived. When many thought that the possibility of having unhindered access to state of the art medical facility in rural Liberia was mythical, Ellen managed to get a 500 bedroom hospital in Tappita, Nimba County. When many of us thought that we continue with the ‘one year one semester’ trend at the University of Liberia, Ellen didn’t just manage to get a new structure at Fendell erected; she increased the budget of the institution to a whopping US$19 million.

When many had given up and felt disconnected with the population of Liberia, she insisted that we have a road leading to Bella Yalla. When many would ride to work and school in dust and suffer from airborne diseases, she paved the Caldwell, AB Tolbert and GSA roads. When many had to relocate hundreds of miles to Monrovia without even a relative there to attend school, she opened a University in Maryland County, a college in Lofa County, a University in Nimba, a college in Grand Bassa County and a Polytechnic in Grand Cape County.

When many thought that cutting edge technology would reach Liberia in the next world, she ensure a 25 million dollar ACE undersea fiber optic cable system for modernization of the IT environment. When many youths who are passionate about sports had given up on their future, she ensured the erection of mini stadia in West point, New Kru town, Clara town to give hope and aspiration to the youths. When many thought pipe borne water and electricity was a mirage in Monrovia, she restored water and light to the capital.

When many aspiring doctors and teachers could not afford tuition, she made the Teachers’ college, A.M Doglitti college of Medicine and the TNIMA tuition free and moreover, gives students monthly allowance for enrolling. When many thought that our foreign reserve would remain depleted, she ensured a 293million dollar in foreign reserve. When many could not speak their mind and exercise their rights to free speech and press freedom, she opened it with NO limits. When counties felt deprived in the national budget and argued that historically it didn’t represent them, she ensured a County Development funds managed by the counties’ leadership.

When many thought her electability was impossible and that Liberians would not show mass support to her and appreciate her good works, we showed up in our millions singing “It will hold, it will surely hold”…