For his distinguished service to county, country, the subregion, and humanity, citizens of Grand Gedeh residing in Monrovia celebrated and bestowed honor on Liberian diplomat and educator, Dr. William Deah Deiyan Towah, upon his return home from a 14-year mission at ECOWAS, in Nigeria.
It was deserving to recognize and appreciate the dedicated service and contributions made by Dr. Towah, that have and continue to impact humanity through mainly his enviable leadership, support to education, and lifting Liberia's diplomat morale, said his friendship group that organized the event on 30 January at Liberia Dujar High School in Barnersville.
"Today marks a definitive milestone in the history of Grand Gedeh County. It signals a profound paradigm shift in how we, as a people, perceive and honor those who have dedicated their lives to the upliftment of our motherland. For too long, we have endured an embarrassing culture of character assassination--one that sought to diminish our noble sons and daughters while granting undue relevance to those responsible for our collective suffering and poor representation," the honoring statement, presented by Mr. Japheth B. Jallayu, one of organizers, reads.
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Jallayu further stated: "It is within this transformative context that we reflect on the life and labor of Chief (Dr.) Towah.He is, by all objective measures, one of the most distinguished sons of our soil. Our tribute aims to highlight what we define as 'The Total Towah'--a multi-dimensional figure whose impact spans the spectrum of student activism, academic scholarship, public administration, and high-level diplomacy.
"In honoring him, we are not merely celebrating a man; we are institutionalizing the values of integrity, divine character, and the "God-fearing" leadership that must become the blueprint for Grand Gedeh County."
When he took the podium in response, Dr. Towah first paid homage to fallen kinsmen including venerated compatriots Bai Mason Gbala and Erol Madison Gwion, Sr., with whom he shared a pro-people mindset. He said he was "exceedingly humbled and gratified" to be recognized by fellow Grand Gedeans and has returned from an international duty strong enough to continue to work with all the citizens in charting a renewed path towards a more prosperous county.
Towah said he played his part at the regional level where some of the decisions taken benefited Liberia and Liberians. "I have represented Liberia well."
"I've come back home; all the suffering... all the talking that's been going on in Grand Gedeh, what's supposed to be, what's not supposed to be, who's supposed to be what or not, I hear all of that."
His speech signaled a call for Gedeans to collaborate and look in a new direction to solve existing structural sociopolitical and economic challenges, especially the creation of job in the county."
The well-attended event saw Gedeh women, elders, youths, and other groups representing various sections of the county, recounting the powerful, often silent contributions ever made by Dr. Towah for the common good while distinguishing himself as a selfless leader.
Culturally elders openly pronounced their blessing and support for Dr. Towah, and lauded him for making transparency, accountability, and the truth in leadership at the levels of public, private sectors and international organizations to look so easy to accomplish. This, they say, has brought profound pride to the people of Grand Gedeh.
For instance, an elder representing Gbarzon District citizens remarked that "there is time for everything," indicating the time to recognize Towah is now.
The women presented the honoree a plague which cataloged the history of his service, expressing their readiness to always stand by him.
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Towah, current chairperson of the Board of Trustees Grand Gedeh University situated in the provincial capital, Zwedru, holds a PhD in Public Policy and Administration with emphasis in Public Management and Leadership. He has honorably retired as director of Finance and Administration the ECOWAS Community Court of Justice in Abuja, Nigeria.
Observers say Towah's apparent appearance on the political stage of Grand Gedeh leading up to the 2029 general and presidential elections has sent shockwaves to incumbent senator Zoe Pennue who was first elected to the House of Reps in 2006 and, in 2020, to the Senate.
While Towah has yet to announce he will run for office, analysts say he will be best-suited to unseat Pennue whose popularity with amongst Grand Gedean has drastically plunged due to his alleged involvement into several controversial issues back home, his two-decade-long poor legislative performance, and seeming complacency in the Legislature.
