The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Liberia, Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., has received the Letters of Accreditation from the new ECOWAS Country Representative to Liberia, Josephine Nkrumah, and the new United Nations Women Country Director, Comfort Lamptey.
Making remarks during the presentation ceremony at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday, March 31, 2022, Nkrumah said ECOWAS will continue to work closely with the Government of Liberia (GOL) in order to lift West Africa out of poverty and ensure a citizenry that is empowered to offer sustained democracy in the sub-region.
Nkrumah mentioned that her role at this time in Liberia is more critical due to recent events in the sub-region as it relates to coups in Mali, Guinea and Burkina Faso, which have raised concern to all.
She said as Liberia goes to election in 2023, the role of ECOWAS will be more pronounced in working and collaborating with government agencies, civil society organizations and partners to ensure that there are smooth elections in Liberia come 2023.
For his part, Minister Kemayah welcomed Nkrumah to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and promised his ministry‘s cordial working relationship with ECOWAS’ role in Liberia, which is aimed at promoting the growth and development in the country. He then wished for Nkrumah God’s blessings as she performs her tour duty in Liberia.
Liberia’s chief diplomat applauded the ECOWAS for the positive role played in bringing peace to Liberia.
“Let me not forget to apprise you of our collective quest to promote and sustain peace, unity and stability as necessary pillars for the realization of the community’s development vision. The media is pivotal and crucial in attaining this objective. The ECOWAS radio station is doing well in Liberia, and I would like to say hats-off to the team under Madam Eva Flomo,” Minister Kemayah said.
The Dean of the Cabinet, on the issue of coups in the sub-region, said if the manipulation of constitutional terms is sternly discouraged by ECOWAS, the region could be spared the agony of military coups.
“While we are condemning these military coups, we must also muster the courage to look into what is triggering these unconstitutional takeovers. Could it be that we are not honoring our political commitments to respect the term limits of our various constitutions?” he wondered.
Minister Kemayah reminded ECOWAS of Liberia’s zero-tolerance for military coups, recounting how Liberia is still reeling from such unconstitutional ascendency to power.
Minister Kemayah informed Nkrumah that, in order to actualize the vision of Liberia’s President, George Weah, for said peace initiative, mainly as a peace ambassador, he hosted the Mano River Union Diplomatic Peace, Security and Democracy Conference in Liberia in November and headed a peace mission to Guinea.
Minister Kemayah said, as part of the conference in November 2021, a joint communique was signed and embedded in it was the need for the MRU to feed in the joint mission comprising the ministers of foreign affairs, chief of defense staffs of the three countries: Ivory Coast, Sierra Leone and Liberia, to visit Guinea.
Later, the new United Nations Women Country Director, Comfort Lamptey, also presented her Letter of Accreditation to Minister Kemayah.
The UN Women is an agency created by the United Nations General Assembly to enhance gender equality and promote the empowerment of women across the globe.
Receiving her credentials, Minister Kemayah welcomed the new country director and underscored that Liberia remains committed to improving the status of women, protecting their rights and encouraging their participation in all spheres of national endeavor.
He assured Lamptey of the Foreign Ministry’s commitment and support in assisting her to make her tour of duty in Liberia productive and rewarding.
Minister Kemayah encouraged her to partner with relevant government ministries and agencies, particularly the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection and other line ministries, to enhance the agency’s operations here.
Minister Kemayah noted that, although government is making efforts to address the plight of women in Liberia, there are still challenges at the national, regional and global levels in dealing with gender-related matters. “Regional and global efforts have registered some tremendous progress in addressing gender issues, but there were still challenges which are determined by cultural and traditional barriers,” he said.
Minister Kemayah noted that, irrespective of the numerous challenges, government is still making huge strides in addressing acts of violence affecting women under President Weah’s administration, who is the Feminist-in-Chief of the country.
For her part, Lamptey extolled the Liberian government and the people for the many positive initiatives taken in promoting the rights and welfare of women in the country.
She also hailed government for passing legislations that would provide support, protect the rights and enhance gender equality in the country, and thanked Liberia for the tangible programs government is implementing in the interest of women rights.