The Union Of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), a union of Liberians based in the disopra, particularly in the United States of America, recently held its election in Ohio, where members from its chapters across the United States of America gathered and voted their new code of officials.
J. Shiwoh Kamara was elected as the new President of ULAA, followed by Minerva Grant, Vice President, Emmanuette Nagbe, General Secretary, Alex Bazzie, Financial Secretary, Dr. Willie Jallah, Treasurer, Robert Reeves, Eastern Region Vice President and Alpha Tongor, Northern Region Vice President.
Speaking with ULAA president-elect exclusively, he informed the Hot Pepper that his leadership will resurface as voice of the voiceless and a beacon of hope by engaging in issues of national pertinence, to the well-being of Liberians at home and abroad. Kamara explained that his leadership will develop a plan to attract Liberian professional organizations to form partnership with the union.
According to him, they will also develop and implement a system of financial management that ensures accountability and transparency at all levels.
ULAA’s president-elect further noted that the union’s current leadership will revisit its constitution, with the intent of removing unnecessary bureaucracies, inefficiencies and opening up the process for the involvement of a broader section of Liberian community organizations in the disopra.
Providing more information about his platform, Kamara stated that a ULAA plan is underway to launch an initiative to revitalize and empower dormant chapters and other chapters which have voluntary suspended their membership. He said these are the pillars of ULAA’s leadership.
When questioned about his leadership qualification, he responded as saying that he served as former President of the Monrovia Consolidated School System (MCSS) Teachers Association from 1986—1991, Co-Chairman, Reorganizing Committee, University of Liberia Alumni Association in the Americas from 2002—2003, and member of the Mayor Commission on Africa and Caribbean Affairs, City of Philadelphia. He is also former president of Liberian Association of Pennsylvania from 2007—2011, among other positions.
When asked about how his leadership impacts the well-being of Liberia, he said they have opened a new path for the government and people of Liberia.