Photo: allAfrica.com The political leader of the main opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) Ambassador George Weah has openly accepted his post as Peace Ambassador of Liberia to head the National Reconciliation Initiatives with assurance from the government that he would be fully supported.
Speaking at the closing ceremony of the National Vision 2030 in Gbarnga, Bong County yesterday, Amb. Weah said he has had a meeting with President Sirleaf to discuss his role as Peace Ambassador and other national issues.
During the discussion, Weah told the audience that President Sirleaf expressed the shared belief of most Liberians that government must play the center role in this initiative to ensure lasting peace, security and stability for the country.
He however assured the President at the meeting that with those commitments and cooperation, his task to promote peace and reconciliation in the country will be a success.
He acknowledged that his appointment implies many challenges on the road ahead to securing sustained peace and security for the country and the future.
To overcome those challenges, Amb. Weah said the government must have the political will to support this initiative to the fullest and facilitate the implementation of programs and recommendations that would be put forward in the interest of peace and reconciliation for the nation.
He told hundreds of Liberians at the Administrative Building that reconciliation is not just the seeking of peace instead it entails the search for peace through social justice, equal opportunities, equitable distribution of the national wealth and increased political participation.
"All Liberians have the responsibility to show by examples of tolerance, forgiveness and mutual respect, that we are committed to the search for sustained peace and guaranteed security based on these tenets. I have consulted my family and the political party I represent. During these consultations we all agreed to put Liberia first than any individual interest, because this is a noble service to the Liberian people and of great historical significance," Amb. Weah said.
Amb. Weah, a former soccer legend added that machineries of aggression and coercion must be replaced by a system based on opportunities in which everyone will have a stake in the prosperity and challenges of their country something he described as a roadmap that would be followed in fulfilling the responsibility of all.
"It is with great honor and privilege that I humbly accept the appointment as Ambassador for Peace for the country that I love. The common ground that we share is that we are all Liberians and want to see our nation grow and develop to its fullest potential. We can achieve this only through peace and reconciliation," he added.
Mr. Weah also told the audience that he has had the privilege in his professional and private life to advocate for peace and unity, so his commitment to youths and to the reconciliation process is unwavering because he has been a partner for peace for a long time.
He therefore promised to seek full cooperation of all Liberians and the support of the international community, the traditional leaders, religious leaders, civil society organizations, students, youth groups, the armed forces of Liberia, former warlords, former child soldiers, pehn-pehn boys among others whom he believes are crucial in the reconciliation process.
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The Liberian People should not elect George Oppong Weah as president of Liberia comes 2017 for the following reasons: a). Oppong Weah will continue the corruption and bad governance which the current president started in 2006 up to now. b). Oppong Weah has never criticize the Ellen administration for corruption, and in fact CDC lawmakers are directly involve in bribe taking in the legislature. C). The goal of the new realtionship between president Sirleaf and George Oppong Weah is for the president to select Weah to succeed her in the role of VP while her son serve as president of Liberia either on CDC ticket or on a new party ticket . This will be disastrous for the country. d). In terms of corruption and bad governance, Oppong will be worse than President Sirleaf, especially the UN will only have an observer force by this time in Liberia. e). Any opposition party leader that works for the ruling party doesn't fit to be a leader of a major opposition party. Oppong and his cronies are only seeking their personal interests like the Sirleaf Families. Therefore, a call to all CDCians, look elsewhere for a new leader and dump oppong Weah. He is hanging with President Sirleaf for his own interests not the country interest. If you don't listen, Oppong and Sirleaf will use all of you to get elected and when you criticize him as president of Liberia, he will lock you up in South Beach. Join the Laymah Gbowee Movement for President comes 2017.
Liberian People, I wholeheartedly agree with your comments. I considered joining CDC on the condition of running against Weah in a open primary, but was told that CDCians wouldn't support anyone but Weah. As you eloquently stated, Weah accepted this ridiculous role solely for his unquenched greed.
CDCians and other Liberians who elect to rethink their naivity and blind loyalty to Weah, should know that there is a new brand of leadership forming currently to contest the presidency in 2017. Weah and George Solo have sold out to Ellen. Case in point, they've suspended their youth leader in Monrovia recently for his version of Vision 2030. If you want to know more about the group of Liberians organizing feverishly to contest the presidency, send comments leadership2017@yahoo.com