President John Dramani Mahama, on Saturday, joined President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and the people of Liberia to celebrate their 178th Independence Day in Monrovia.
The event, held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia, Montserrado County, was attended by heads of state from the subregion, including the Presidents of Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Guinea-Bissau. Representatives from the governments of Côte d’Ivoire, Nigeria, and The Gambia were also present.
Liberia used the occasion to recognise ECOWAS member states that contributed troops to the multinational peacekeeping force, ECOMOG, which played a key role in ending the civil war and securing humanitarian corridors during the Liberian conflict.
President Mahama received Ghana’s honour from the Liberian President on behalf of the Ghana Armed Forces and the people of Ghana, in recognition of the contribution of its gallant soldiers.
In a spirit of national reconciliation, President Boakai said Liberia must heal itself, unite for a common purpose, and inspire all citizens to work toward the country’s accelerated development.
He called on all Liberians to leverage technology to transform the nation.
The celebration, held under the theme “One People, One Destiny: Healing the Past and Building the Future,” reflected on the country’s history, emphasised the need for introspection, reconciliation, and a united national identity to rebuild a peaceful Liberia endowed with rich natural resources.
President Mahama was accompanied by the Minister for Defence, Dr Edward Omane Boamah; the Chief of Defence Staff of the Ghana Armed Forces, Lt. General William Agyapong; and the Deputy Chief of Staff, Operations, Stanislav Xoese Dogbe.
