The Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) joined the rest of the world over the weekend to celebrate the 100th International Day of Cooperatives (ICD) in Gbarnga, Bong County.
A decade on from the United Nations International Year of Cooperatives showcased the unique contribution of cooperatives in making the world a better place.
This year’s celebration was held under the theme, “Cooperatives Build a Better World”.
In celebration of the historical event, the CDA invited cooperators from everywhere in Liberia to spread the message about human-centered business model, inspired by the workings of cooperatives’ values of self-help, self- responsibility, democracy, equality, equity and solidarity, and the ethical values of honesty and openness in caring for others.
Cooperatives have proved more resilient to crises than the average sectors of society, and have fostered economic participation, good jobs, food security, financial capital within local communities, ethical value chain, improved material conditions and security, peace and fight against environmental degradation and climate change.
Professor Wilson Tarpeh, Executive Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), served as keynote speaker at the observance of the International Cooperative Day.
He urged cooperators and the CDA delegates at the occasion to work hard and unite for the greater good of cooperatives in the country.
According to Professor Tarpeh, it is important to have a cooperatives bank in Liberia to empower cooperatives.
During his speech, he touched every aspect of cooperatives’ work in Liberia, and ended with recommendations for their activities in the country.
Also speaking at the program, the Registrar General of the CDA, Regina Sokan-Teah, praised the cooperatives for gracing the occasion, and buttressed statements made by the keynote speaker for more togetherness and hard work.
During the program, several cooperatives were certificated for their outstanding performance during the year under review.
Those certificated included Say no to Hunger, Most Productive Agricultural Cooperative Society of the Year 2021/2022; United Mining Cooperative, Most Performing Artisanal Mining Cooperative of the Year 2021/2022; National Port Authority (NPA) Credit Union, Most Performing Cooperative Union of the Year 2021/2022.
At the program, there were lots of speakers who commended the CDA for organizing such a program.
For her part, the Chairperson of the NPA Credit Union, Yogie Mulbah Sirleaf, praised CDA for honoring her with such recognition at the event.
She said the NPA Credit Union’s certificate is not a surprise because the union has been buttressing government’s effort in addressing employees empowerment.
Sirleaf used the ceremony to call on her fellow cooperators to support the CDA in its quest to empower cooperatives in the country.
The International Cooperatives Day went well, with hundreds of cooperatives members in attendance, including CDA staff and guests.