MONROVIA – President Joseph Nyuma Boakai delivered a stirring address at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion on Saturday, July 26, 2025, as Liberia celebrated its 178th Independence Day. Standing before a distinguished gathering that included ECOWAS leaders and Liberians from all walks of life, the President reflected on the nation’s turbulent history while laying out a bold vision for reconciliation, national unity, and economic reform.
Addressing Liberians at home and abroad, President Boakai said the day was one of “pride and hope,” marking not just an anniversary but a celebration of the enduring resilience of the Liberian people. “July 26 is the living symbol of the courage and conviction of those who dreamed of a homeland of liberty,” he said, urging Liberians to reflect not only on the country’s historical triumphs but also on its persistent challenges.
In a significant diplomatic milestone, Boakai reminded the nation that Liberia had recently secured a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. “For a country once defined by war, this is a powerful reminder that we are now seen as peacebuilders,” he declared, adding that Liberia’s rising global stature requires a new standard of leadership and responsibility at home.
President Boakai hailed recent steps toward national reconciliation, including the reburial of former Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe. These gestures, he said, serve as “corrective measures of historical injustice,” and reflect the country’s willingness to confront the past in order to chart a peaceful and united future. He also cited a national apology for the war years as a bold but necessary step.
Underscoring the need for collective progress, the President invoked an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” He urged Liberians to move beyond the political and tribal divisions that have long defined national discourse, emphasizing that the country must embrace the path of reconciliation and shared destiny. “We must choose that second path and declare this era the Liberian Century,” he said.
Boakai emphasized the importance of leveraging technology, innovation, and education to ensure Liberia’s inclusion in the global development conversation. But he warned that no economic progress could be sustained without healing the nation’s divisions. “Our development will not endure without reconciliation. Our future cannot take root without unity,” he said.
One of the most heartfelt portions of the President’s address was his tribute to ECOWAS and the West African peacekeepers who helped restore stability during Liberia’s darkest years. He extended Liberia’s “eternal gratitude” to nations like Nigeria, Ghana, Sierra Leone, and Senegal, whose sons and daughters paid the ultimate price to restore peace on Liberian soil. “Your nations stood by us in our hour of greatest need, not with words alone, but with action,” Boakai said.
To honor this legacy, President Boakai announced plans to commission a National Memorial in remembrance of both the victims of the civil war and the fallen ECOMOG peacekeepers. He described the forthcoming monument as a “sacred space” for collective memory and national reflection, a reminder that “the peace we enjoy today was never free.”
As part of the day’s events, President Boakai declared July 30, 2025, a National Day of Prayer. He called on all Liberians to gather in mosques, churches, and sacred places to “seek God’s face” and ask for continued blessings on the nation. “It is only through reconciliation that we can fully heal,” he said, placing faith and unity at the center of his administration’s moral compass.
In addressing Liberia’s domestic challenges, President Boakai acknowledged ongoing economic difficulties, including high market prices and limited revenue. While progress is being made in agriculture, road connectivity, and food production, the President said much more remains to be done. “Small, small, we are marching toward a happy land by God’s command,” he noted, but warned that imbalances in the market threaten social stability.
To address the contradiction between falling import costs and high consumer prices, Boakai announced the formation of a High-Level Presidential Ad Hoc Committee. Chaired by Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, the Committee will investigate these economic distortions and present recommendations within 45 days. The President said its findings will be vital in restoring “fairness and stability in our market system.”
Concluding his address, Boakai called on Liberians to abandon partisan rivalries and embrace a national ethos of shared responsibility. Quoting former U.S. President Jimmy Carter, who once visited Liberia, he reminded the nation that Liberians remain a people “determined to build a society which reflected the dignity of their souls and the hope in their hearts.” He urged all citizens to think Liberia, love Liberia, and build Liberia.
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