Our Esteemed Guest, President Nana Dankwa Arkufo Addo, and Representatives of Other Foreign Heads of State;
Mr. Vice President & Mrs. Koung;
First Lady Kartumu Y. Boakai;
Mr. Speaker and Honorable Members of the House of Representatives;
Madam President Pro Tempore and Members of the Senate;
Madam Former Vice President of Liberia, Honorable Jewel Howard-Taylor;
Madam Chief Justice, Associate Justices, and Members of the Judiciary;
Dr. Robtel N. Pailey, the National Orator;
Doyen, Excellencies, and Members of the Diplomatic Corps;
Our Special Guests;
Members of the Cabinet and other Officials of Government;
Chiefs, Traditional Leaders;
Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Former President George Manneh and Mrs. Clar Weah:
Bishops, Prelates, and Members of the Clergy;
Development Partners;
Superintendent, and Local Government Officials;
Political Leaders;
Business Leaders;
NGO Leaders, Media;
Marketers;
Students;
Ladies and Gentlemen;
Fellow Citizens:
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.
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.
By their sweat, tears, and blood, we were bequeathed a new culture of democracy that is holding its own and celebrated by the world.
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.
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.
My fellow citizens, 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.
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.
Liberia is a country with a rich history, but it has been slow to progress. 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, and 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.
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.
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.
This is why this year’s theme for our independence celebrations, “Building a New Liberia for All Liberians,” cannot be more appropriate:
For too long, Liberia has faced challenges that have divided us. Historical structural barriers have not only made it difficult for a large segment of our population, especially those in the interior of the country to access services; they have curtailed their ability to earn and sustain respectable livelihoods.
The structure of our 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.
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.
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.
Building a new Liberia should not be just a dream; we must promise ourselves 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. 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.
Additionally, 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.
But building that new Liberia is not just about the infrastructure we will build and the policies we 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.
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.
That is why we must stand united, determined to create a new society where justice prevails, where opportunity abounds, and where the dignity of every Liberian is upheld.
In recent weeks, my Government has been engaging in discussions with various stakeholders in our 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. 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.
I want to thank 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.
Distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, Liberians home and abroad;
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.
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.
As I end, I encourage you to always think Liberia, Love Liberia, and Build Liberia.
Thank you, and happy 26th!
May God Bless us all and save our Nation.
