In a bold and stirring Independence Day address, the Orator of Liberia’s 178th National Independence Anniversary, Rev. Dr. Emmett Lafayette Dunn, delivered a direct and uncompromising message to the country’s leaders, declaring that the fight against corruption and national decay must not rest on the shoulders of the President alone.
Speaking to a packed audience of dignitaries, government officials, international partners, and ordinary citizens, Rev. Dunn employed the imagery of a parable to call attention to the voices of the marginalized — particularly Liberia’s youth.
“There is a parable that says, when one enters a village, they should listen to the songs the children sing. For by listening to the songs the children sing, you will hear the good, the bad, and the ugly,” he began.
Rev. Dunn then turned his message directly to President Joseph Boakai, stating with urgency:
“Mr. President, your children are singing. And they’re singing that corruption is still deeply embedded in our institutions. And it will take more than policy to uproot it. It will take more courage and political will from the highest office to the lowest.”
But he didn’t stop there. The Orator made it clear that the responsibility for tackling corruption extends beyond the Executive Mansion.
“To the Honorable Speaker, the Honorable President Pro Tempore, and Her Honor the Chief Justice—the fight against corruption is yours as well, and not just the President’s.”
Throughout his oration, Rev. Dunn painted a sobering picture of Liberia’s ongoing challenges—from unemployment and hunger to gender inequality and drug abuse. Yet his central theme remained clear: Liberia cannot move forward unless its entire leadership, across all branches of government, commits to decisive action.
“The people are singing, and they’re saying unemployment remains dangerously high. We cannot afford to let our people drift into despair—or worse—into the hands of those who could possibly exploit their frustration.”
He further highlighted the growing inequality, warning that the benefits of Liberia’s resources and opportunities are not being fairly shared.
“Too many of our people go to bed hungry while a few grow rich by the minute. We must reimagine a Liberia where opportunity is not reserved for the connected, but for those who are committed.”
The orator also drew attention to gender-based disparities and the need to protect and empower women.
“Gender inequality continues to rob our nation of its full potential. Women still face systemic barriers—from unequal pay to unsafe public spaces. We must do more to protect them, empower them, and include them.”
On education, while acknowledging some progress, he pushed for transformation over incremental improvements.
“Improvement is not enough. The children are still walking miles to go to school, just like you did, Mr. President. They need transformation.”
Perhaps the most urgent moment of his speech came when he addressed the deepening drug crisis, calling it more than a public health issue.
“The children are singing. And they’re saying drug abuse is silently destroying the future of Liberia’s youth—linking it to crime, unemployment, and hopelessness. We must act before it is too late.”
“The drug situation in Liberia is now becoming a national security risk,” he warned, urging swift and serious action.
Despite the gravity of the issues he raised, Rev. Dunn emphasized that these are not reasons for despair, but motivations for unity and transformation.
“Fellow citizens, these are not reasons to despair. They are reasons to act.”
“Liberia cannot fulfill its promise until every citizen—from West Point to Soniwein, from Voinjama to Fortesville—has a fair chance to thrive,” he said. “Because the work of building Liberia is not limited to the Executive Mansion, but involves all of us.”
