Photo: allAfrica.com

George Weah.

With a couple of unsuccessful attempts by the Government of Liberia and perhaps its international partners to undertake a more comprehensive and active reconciliation agenda, the man who takes the mantle, the golden key, for the onerous task in post-conflict Liberia, George Weah, took the public service rostrum yesterday, getting out of the shell his version of wisdom on how Liberians can move forward in unison and harmony. The nation, no doubt, is anxious to see what comes out of this son of the soil who twice had fought for the highest public office of the land and believed by some Liberians to be a solution. As The Analyst reports, Weah is poised to bring, as his first hit, to the table what he's highly acclaimed for worldwide, sports, also believed to the unifying force in the civilized world.

George Manneh 'Oppong' Weah has finally taken the public stand following protracted disagreement over whether or not it is necessary for him to take assignment from his longtime political foe. It was also said there was no need for him to particularly take responsibility for the peace and reconciliation program of Madam Sirleaf which recently the President's pal, Lymah Gbowee  quitted.

Amid the contentions, Weah has come out with his plans and strategies to achieve his assignment and objectives. During a regular press conference of the government at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Weah outlined his approach to reconciling Liberia, saying that his strategy will be done in stages over an extended period.

The Liberian soccer legend is making an international soccer festival involving soccer icons invited to the country to play a catalytic role by showcasing their talents to wooing Liberian fans for peace and harmony in the country.

The soccer legend, who is reported to have won the Europe Best, Africa Best and World Best trophies in 1996, said that by inviting his international soccer colleagues to Liberia, his new approach will serve to stimulate youths to aspire for professionalism in the way that other icons inspired and mentored him during his soccer career.

Stating that Liberians have always had annual county meets to help re-unify, reconcile or foster peace in the country, he said the use of international players for the same reason has the added value of propelling more youths and adults in playing constructive roles for overall harmony in the country.

George Weah also known as Liberia Peace Ambassador, was accompanied to the Charles Gbenyon Conference Hall of the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) by a huge constellation of Africa's and Europe's veteran and current key players spoke at an extraordinary press briefing, where he also displayed his coveted World Best golden trophy award, that is popularly known by its French equivalent, Ballon d'Or.

"I brought the world stars to Liberia to help present this Ballon d'Or to the Liberian people as the true symbol for the peace we are all yearning for," Weah remarked.

Ambassador Weah further intimated that peace and reconciliation is a necessary condition for any successful development in the country.

He expressed the hope that young people will begin to emulate the talents and examples of professional players that they have only seen on televisions or videos, but by seeing them in person may spark awareness in them to aspire for greater things in life than surviving on crimes.

He added by saying that a lot of Liberians speak about peace and reconciliation but their hearts are farther away from what they consider, preach or talk about.

The political leader of the opposition Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) said that he sees his mandate as peace ambassador as that of spreading awareness among citizens about the necessity to reconcile with one another.

According to him, his reconciliation strategy is not a different agenda for peace from the Roadmap document that has already been launched by the government.

He intimated that the entire Peace Jamboree that he has organized, will be followed by undertaking a county

'Listening Tour' that will enable him to understand the shades of opinions about what Liberians believe as prerequisites in reconciling the country.

Upon completing the nationwide 'listening tour', Mr. Weah said he and his reconciliation initiative will generate the perceptions of citizens that he intends to compile into a report that will have appropriate recommendations for the government to take the appropriate steps to reconcile the nation.

He said that during the official launch of the Roadmap for Peacebuilding, National Healing and Reconciliation document in Gbarnga, Bong County, he observed that by accepting to play a lead role in reconciling Liberia, he did so believing the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights would remain as cardinal observances of all stakeholders including the government.

He said that as far he is concerned, these ideas still form the key pillars that will guide his peace and reconciliation initiative.

Ambassador Weah said that since his assumption of the peace ambassador post under the government, he has not been given an office from which to carry out his functions, but quickly interjected that as a Liberian, he cannot allow lack of office facility to hinder his effective service delivery to the people of Liberia.

He added that based on this fact, he has packaged the current reconciliation jamboree with some inputs from the Ministry of Youth and Sport, Liberia Football Association and few other agencies of government, as a way of jumpstarting this key process.

Weah also called on major investments in the country to rally support to the peace initiative that he has jumpstarted, saying that peace in Liberia will guarantee the stable environment for productivity and profitability of such investments.

Mr. Weah has also called on all Liberians to join him in the great effort of reuniting and reconciling the country, saying that all Liberians must see his effort as a modest one that all stakeholders can contribute to in order to get sustainable peace in the country.

Ambassador Weah added that with peace in the country, some of his invitees (international soccer players), who have are partaking in the peace festivities, would earmark certain sectors for investment in the country. He said that some of the players can open major factories to significantly reduce unemployment among young people, adolescents and other categories of jobless people in the country.

The former UNICEF goodwill ambassador said these are some of the possibilities that those who have been downplaying his invitation of international players do not recognize fast enough.

The soccer legend also commended the other soccer luminaries, who have sacrificed to honor his invitation, stated that they are serving in multiplicity of  roles but came out of deep love for him and the country, because he did not pay a dime for their air travel, accommodation and other aspects of their stay in Liberia.

In his own intervention at the briefing, the former Cameroonian soccer legend, Roger Milla, remarked that as a government functionary for his country, he did not take excuse from national authorities to come to Liberia but simply honored Weah's invitation based on the cause of helping in anyway that Liberians can sustain peace in the country.

Mr. Milla indicated that Liberia over the years had been a major worry for almost all Africans, such that other countries of the continent and the world seek nothing other than sustaining the current hard-won peace in the country.

Meanwhile, the peace and reconciliation festivities that started yesterday with the press briefing at MICAT is today, Thursday, June 20, continuing with a Peace and Reconciliation Dialogue at the Centennial Pavilion on Ashmun Street, beginning at 10:00 AM.

On tomorrow, Friday, June 21, 2013, there will be a Peace and Reconciliation Parade, while on Saturday, June 22, 2013, there will be a soccer fiesta at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Complex at which the international stars will showcase their eternal brilliance on the soccer pitch. It is also expected that the first-ever Ballon d'Or won by a soccer maestro of African descent will be presented by Ambassador George Weah to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Reports Gbawu Flomo Woiwor .