The Foreign Minister, H.E. Ambassador Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., has assured his Guinean compatriots, of the Government of Liberia’s commitment to the terms and conditions of the Agreement on the institutional and operational framework between the two countries and the unwavering political will on the part of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia. “Let us make history together to better the lives of the two great peoples,” Minister Kemayah noted.
Minister Kemayah said the meeting of the Monitoring Committee, comprising of competent technicians from both countries, represents the new epoch in the imperishable bilateral and sisterly ties subsisting between the two countries and peoples.
“I am also quite elated to, on behalf of His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, and the Government and People of Liberia, and in my own name, formally welcome all of you, especially my dear good friend and brother, the esteemed Head of Delegation and counterpart from the Republic of Guinea, His Excellency Ibrahim Khalil Kaba, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Guineans Abroad, and the distinguished members of his high-power delegation to Liberia,” he noted.
The Dean of the Cabinet made these remarks at the formal opening of a three-day gathering intended to discuss the development of a rail corridor to transport Guinean mining products using Liberian port infrastructure, held at a local hotel on Wednesday, June 9, 2021. The corridor will also facilitate the transport of agriculture products, people, goods and services.
Minister Kemayah further averred that the long cherished bond of friendship and cooperation, characterized by intermarriages, linguistic and cultural ties, cross border trades and deeply rooted fraternal ties; dating even before Guinea’s independence in 1958, noting that Guinea and Liberia share common borders, which are hardly distinguishable, and have facilitated in large measure; to close knitted communities on both sides and accelerated trade and commerce across national frontiers.
The Liberian Chief Diplomat said these interactions laid the firm premise for the engagements and the momentous drive to improve the social and economic wellbeing of the two peoples.
He said he is pleased to apprise this August body that the Republic of Liberia through its Legislature has ratified the Bilateral implementation Agreement; following which, His Excellency President WEAH signed it into law; and now, published and printed into hand bills, disclosing that this is to further demonstrate to their Guinean counterparts that Liberia takes seriously its commitment to the full and scrupulous implementation of the Agreement.
This, the Government of Liberia, he intoned is congruous with its national development plan – the “Pro-Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development”(PAPD), and fulfils the benchmarks set forth in Pillars Two and Three – Economy and Job and Sustaining the Peace; respectively.
Minister Kemayah applauded the exceptional hard work of the technical teams from both Guinea and Liberia, who have done a remarkable job to bring us thus far, their diligence and sacrifices have underscored their patriotic callings to serve their respective peoples and humanity at large. “We are further optimistic that this spirit of selfless dedication witnessed throughout the foundational processes will propel us to succeed in what the both countries have committed to do”.
The Guinean delegation consist of nine senior ministers, headed by the country’s Foreign Minister and Guinean Abroad, Ibrahim K. Kaba, who lead Guinea’s bilateral engagements. Heads of Guinean financial institutions are also part of the delegation.
The agreement represents a legal, institutional and operational framework between the two countries and is meant to secure the use of current and future infrastructure and/or transport services in Liberia by Guinean mining operators. It also facilitates the importation to Guinea by mining operators of goods used for mining projects in Guinea.