LIBERIA’S 172nd INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE

LIBERIA’S 172nd INDEPENDENCE DAY MESSAGE
Delivered By Mr. Bernard G. Goah
President, Operation We Care for Liberia
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Mr. Undersecretary for Public Affairs,
Officials and members of Operation We Care for Liberia,

Distinguished Listening Guest,
Special Friends of Liberia,
Fellow Liberians from far and near,
Ladies and Gentlemen.

I deem it a special privilege to have been selected to speak to you on this auspicious occasion of Liberia’s 172nd Independence Day celebrations. This day is been celebrated both in Liberia and in Liberian communities in the Diaspora.
Please allow me to express my appreciation to the Government of the United States of America for the kind hospitalities bestow upon all Liberians that dwell in this country.
Permit me to also express my deepest gratitude to you all for your endless love for our beloved country Liberia.

I salute OWCL’s dedication and commitment to the complete transformation of Liberia into an economically and politically strong country led by moral, ethical men and women unencumbered by the divisive, destructive politics of the past. Thanks a million for advancing the interests of the people of Liberia through advocacy as well as promote unity, understanding, and cooperation amongst the people of Liberia.

The people of Liberia must be bounded by shared values such as respect for the rule of law, democracy, education, religious freedom, respect for the environment, as well as the dignity of labor. Also, protection of the individual rights, including the rights of women, self-respect, and respect for others must be integral to the order of business in Liberia as well as in Liberian communities in the Diaspora. This order of business shall usher in a harmonious, dynamic age punctuated by Professionalism, Enlightenment, Productivity, Accountability, Growth, Development, Freedom, Prosperity, and justice in Liberia and Diaspora Liberian communities. Please continue to press on until Liberia and Liberian communities in the Diaspora are relieved of the deeply entrenched slave-oriented mindset which has pitted brother against brother, causing division, suspicion, mistrust, poverty, stagnation, and underdevelopment.

Fellow brothers and sisters, many sacrifices were made, many rights were waived. Many lives were lost, loved ones were separated, as a result of some unwanted events that took place over the years in our country. We are still alive today not because we are better than those that fell, but so that we will continue to press on and build on the good which they have initiated with their lives for the betterment of our future.

Please join me in a moment of silence in observance of the over 250,000 Liberians who lost their lives during the civil war and are unable to celebrate with us today…

May their souls rest peace.

Each independence day I like to reflect upon how far we as a people have come. This year, as I was reflecting on my thoughts, I began to trace our Liberian history. I asked myself, “What point in time did we gain our freedom?” Are we truly free?

Liberia was born in a quest for human freedom. The US Congress appropriated $100,000 in 1819 for the establishment of Liberia (and resettlement of freemen and freed slaves from North America). This liberty initiative was executed by the American Colonization Society, led by prominent Americans such as Francis Scott Key, George Washington’s nephew Bushrod Washington, Henry Clay, Daniel Webster, and President Monroe (for whom Liberian settlers named the capital, Monrovia), Adams, and Jackson.
The circumstantial founding fathers of Liberia were guided by dreams of a nation that would ensure liberty and justice for all. Liberia’s Declaration of Independence says that every person has a right to institute a government of their choosing – one that protects rights, life, liberty and property of all.

Liberia’s constitution of 1847 ensures the rights to religious freedom, to freedom of speech and freedom of the press. The idea behind the establishment of the constitution was to establish justice, to ensure domestic peace, and to promote the general welfare of the people. However, the general welfare of people, extended only as far as to Americo-Liberians, for the indigenous population was not afforded the same freedoms. So I would argue that the constitution did not free us.

In the late 1800s, the government of Liberia took out a loan of five hundred thousand dollars to build infrastructure. We as a people thought praise be to God, we will have schools for our children, our goods will be purchased, and we will grow and we will prosper. Alas, that was not to be, a mere 20% of the loan was spent on infrastructure. The rest went into the pockets of government officials. Financial and educational freedom was so close but did not come to pass.

In 1934, under international pressure, Liberia instituted extensive policy reforms. These reforms were to address the oppressive nature of the government toward indigenous Liberians. Once again, we yelled, “Freedom, thank you, God.” Yet what did we receive in truth? Firestone developed more of its land, displacing more people and enslaving more workers. And many of you may not be aware of this, but we also received the Lansdell K Christie Company, which held a land lease for 80 years at 5 cents an acre. None of this improved the living conditions of indigenous peoples and this surely brought us no closer to freedom.

In 1946, President William V. S. Tubman passed an act granting adult suffrage to all native hut owners who paid hut tax. Once again we yelled, Freedom, thank you, God. We can now cast our votes. This act pacified many but did not bring us Freedom.

President William R. Tolbert Jr. built schools, and we yelled: “Thank you, God, educational Freedom.” But with the monopolizing of the rice market by the Tolbert government and price of rice on the rise, our freedom was once again short-lived and conflict was inevitable.

In 1980, we chanted “In the cause of the people, the struggle continues.” The Regan led administration trained and equipped the Armed Forces of Liberia and contributed $500 million in aid, to the Doe led government for developing the country but such funds instead were used to bludgeon President Doe’s rivals into submission. Freedom was not ours, and perhaps might not be for some time.

And we cannot forget Charles Taylor, who came with his freedom fighters to liberate us from our chains of bondage. Our voices strained, we hoped, and we yelled, Thank God, Freedom has come. But when President Taylor left Liberia on Aug. 11, he took with him 3 million dollars that were donated by the government of Taiwan to disarm and demobilize Tayor’s private militias. This last theft brings the estimate of stolen and diverted public funds for the last four years of his presidency from $90 million to $100 million. Because almost nothing was left to steal any longer, a United States official near Monrovia concluded that Liberia is now the poorest nation on earth.

Since the end of Liberia’s civil war in 2003, the United States has contributed over $1 billion in bilateral assistance and more than $1 billion in assessed contributions to the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Other countries have contributed millions of dollars to the rebuilding process of Liberia.

In 2005, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf told us “My people, you are free at last. Papa will now put food on the table”.
Again, we yell Thank God! Our Old Ma is here; our Iron Lady, Ma Ellen will deliver us. Again millions of dollars were invested into Liberia to help the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf government rebuild the country. USAID provided support to strengthen the legislative and other political processes and is still strengthening civil society role in delivering services and advocating good governance. U.S. bilateral assistance totaled almost $230 million in FY 2010. In July 2010 alone, the Government of Liberia signed a $15 million Threshold Program with the Millennium Challenge Corporation to strengthen indicators in land reform, girl’s education, and trade. However, the lacks of management and accountability on the part of the Sirleaf administration, and greed surfaced beyond human imagination thereby denying the people of Liberia their entitlement.

And then (Pro-Poor George The Celebrity Boy) came to “save the day”. Power to the people, he proclaimed. But the moment the dust began to settle, Liberia’s economic mismanagement and rising corruption accelerated economic decline exponentially so much, the country is now at the brink of collapse. Sixteen Billion Liberian dollars vanished in thin air, and twenty-five million United States dollars went unaccounted for.
Goerge is neither well-schooled nor politically sophisticated and when he faces a major problem, he vacillates. His decisions, which often are not well thought through, are often reversed when the implications become clearer. George also appears to suffer from abrupt mood shifts. He often acts based on incomplete information and has often followed bad advice from less mature colleagues or from those who have their own axes to grind. George’s impulsiveness and backtracking became clear a few months ago when he reprimanded his Deputy Minister of Information, Culture Affairs, and Tourism due to a divisive statement the minister made on social media. But Pro-poor George soon reinstated the minister the moment corruption allegation began to surface in government and a chain of citizens protests started happening.

Ladies and gentleman, I ask you up to this date, where is our Freedom? Lack of government accountability, rape, armed robbery, rampant corruption in higher places in government, poverty, and a lack of infrastructure have brought us no closer to freedom.

I do not recount these events to sadden your hearts, but to remind you of our past struggles and awaken you about our future. This Independence Day celebration, for me, is about the future. This day is about the Freedom I know, we will one day obtain.

You might ask, “But Mr. Goah, how can you be sure that Freedom will be ours when history has shown otherwise?”

I know freedom is obtainable because we are educated.

Thousands of indigenous fled Liberia to take refuge in other countries. Did they sit by idly? No, on numerous refugee camps academic and trade schools were built and staffed. Children, as well as adults, flocked to these schools to obtain knowledge. Many of us left the country to receive higher education, and many have gone back to contribute to the rebuilding process.

Many Liberians who did not graduate from high school due to the war are now returning to school, regardless of their age. We should not feel shame, but rather feel proud of ourselves because we are strong and determined.
We are educated in the experience too. The Civil War taught us many things about who we are, and who we don’t want to be. We are wise beyond our years, for war can do that to a person. We take our time; we make sure we are doing things in a positive way for generations to come.

I know freedom is obtainable because of what grassroots Liberian organizations are doing.

There are hundreds of small NGOs and CBOs across Liberia. They are reaching out to communities all across the country, where the government cannot or does not want to reach. They provide education, healthcare, food, empowerment, safety, and a sense of community. They are giving a voice to those who would otherwise be silenced. They are giving abilities to those who have been unable, and hope to those who have been hopeless.

I know freedom is obtainable because I have hope and I see hope alive in you and so many Liberians.

Before the civil war erupted in Liberia, Lofa County had about 100 health facilities, including four hospitals. All of which were destroyed. Today, the war has ended; Lofa has over 34 small health facilities. The county once had 260 schools, all of which were destroyed. But now there are over 30 schools providing education for our youth. If we did not have hope, why rebuild? Lofa is not alone, rebuilding is happening in my own county Grand Gedeh and Nimba, cape mount, Bong counties, as well as the rest of Liberia.

I know freedom is obtainable because we as a people have taken charge of our future. That is why we have decided that one of us, will have to run for the nations highest office in the year 2023. My desire to run for public office stems from the following:
I believe revitalizing Liberia’s economy will depend largely on economic diversification, increase investment and trade. It will also depend on higher global commodity prices, sustained foreign aid in the short run, and the development of infrastructure and institutions. Combating corruption, and maintaining political stability, security using an uncompromising justice system that holds people accountable for crimes committed is key to economic growth. With my team of professionals, I believe we can put Liberia back on the right trajectory to greatness creating progress for all Liberians.

My fellow Liberians, at no other point in our history, have so many citizens been so involved in the rebuilding process. The private sector is growing. Individual citizens are taking the lead in self-sustainable development. Our voices can no longer be silenced. We cry out for freedom, and our cries can no longer be ignored.

We are not only celebrating the independence of Liberia as a country. We are celebrating 172 years of never giving up. The resilience we learned while being oppressed has molded our country and our character. Today, this resilience does not just define the indigenous population. No. It defines all Liberian people.

We are a strong people, a united people. Our future, our freedom, does not lie with the government, nor the paper on which the constitution is written. Freedom is in our minds, in our ability to see the future and what it holds for all of us, in our ability to question policy markers, in our ability to put Liberia first regardless of our tribes and our counties of origin, and in our ability to contribute to the rebuilding process.
We will be free because that is what we see for our future.

Happy Independence Day!

God bless Liberia!

(Mr. Goah can be contacted via phone and email at 971 533 4650 and bgoah76@yahoo.com)