Monrovia – July 29, 2025 – A proclamation issued by the Office of the President late Tuesday evening declared Wednesday, July 30, 2025, as a National Fast and Prayer Day, prompting questions and public confusion over the duplication of a legally recognized national observance.
According to the Patriotic and Cultural Observances Law — Chapter 25 of the Executive Law — Liberia already observes Fast and Prayer Day each year on the Second Friday in April. This official holiday is a day of solemn reflection, repentance, and national spiritual renewal, observed nationwide with government offices, businesses, and schools closed in observance.
The presidential declaration, signed and issued through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, did not clarify whether the July 30 observance is a one-time emergency call for prayer or an additional national holiday with recurring intent.
Legal experts and civil society groups have expressed concern that the declaration may violate the principle of statutory consistency and could lead to administrative confusion if such proclamations are not carefully harmonized with existing laws.
“The President certainly has the authority to declare national holidays through proclamation,” said one legal scholar who asked not to be named. “However, doing so in a way that duplicates or conflicts with existing laws could create a constitutional gray area. The people deserve clarity.”
Calls are mounting for the Executive to provide a formal explanation regarding:
The legal basis for naming a second Fast and Prayer Day within the same calendar year;
Whether this declaration is extraordinary or intended to establish a new tradition; and
The practical implications for government operations and private sector businesses.
In the meantime, government offices and schools are expected to remain closed today in compliance with the proclamation. Churches and mosques across the country have reportedly been notified and are organizing special services for national reflection and prayer.
As the country observes this unexpected holiday, many are hoping for clearer communication and better alignment between Executive actions and statutory law moving forward.
