In his Unification Day message on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, in a rather political maturity, placed calls to prominent politicians as well as religious leaders, seeking for reconciliation to develop the country.
“It was clearly within such frame of mind that I, earlier today, placed goodwill telephone calls to former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah, as well as eminent national leaders, including Benoni Wilfred Urey, and Alexander Benedict Cummings, political leader of the Alternative National Congress. I also reached out to the Liberia Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia, as well as the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders of Liberia,” the President said.
According to him, the calls was his government own way of forging the spirit of unification and inclusion, assuring all that our doors remain open for any meaningful engagements that we have our hands in nation building.
As we commemorate this important day, him called on all Liberians, irrespective statues to recommit to the principles of national unity, patriotism, and collective progress.
Pres. Boakai: “Let’s each do our part, wherever we are and in whatever we do, to build a Liberia that is peaceful, equitable, and prosperous for all.”
He added: “My fellow Liberians, today we gather as one people to observe National Unification Day, the day of solemn reflection and hopeful recommitting to the ideals that bind us together as a nation.
Unification Day is not merely a date on our calendar. It is a symbol of our shared determination to rise above our divisions and forge a society grounded in justice, inclusion and mutual respect.
Declared in 1960 under the Visionary Unification Policy, this day was intended to heal historic divides, promote national cohesion, and remind us that our strength as Liberian ties in our unity.
Since our founding in 1847, Liberia’s journey has been one of both promise and adversity. While our early aspirations were noble, including freedom, dignity and self-governance, we have also faced profound challenges. These include division between settlers and indigenous communities, between urban and rural populations, and among our many rich and diverse ethnic groups.
These challenges came to a head during the years of our civil conflict, the scars of which still linger not only in our national memory, but also on our national physical infrastructure. Yet, through it all, we have made strides in consolidating peace, rebuilding institutions, and restoring hope. But true reconciliation and unification require more than a mere passage of time. They require deliberate effort with conscious decisions by each of us to prioritize understanding over suspicion, collaboration over conflict and renewal that I am pleased to acknowledge Tuesday’s (May 13) peaceful resolution of the leadership stand up in the Lower House of our Legislature with the election of Richard Koon as Speaker of the House of Representatives. I have extended my warmest congratulations to him on this election and urge him to lead with courage, inclusiveness, and humility.
I further encourage him to reach across the ice, unify the body, and ensure that the House focuses squarely on the work for which the Liberian people elected its members. We do also acknowledge the laudable move by former Speaker, Fonati Koffa, a decision so significantly helped in bringing this unfortunate impasse to a more accessible closure.
This moment marks not only the end of the protracted impasse, but also the beginning of a new opportunity to serve our people with honor and urgency.
I should therefore express my sincere gratitude to all women in Liberia, our elders, local leaders, religious authorities, and ordinary citizens, who lend their voices and wisdom to help bring about this resolution.
Such a resounding commitment to peace, dialogue, and stability exemplifies the very spirit of National Unification Day.
Let us now get to work. The time for service is now. The Liberian people are watching. They are hoping and they deserve our very best.
My fellow Liberians, unification is not a slogan to be rehearsed once a year. It must become a way of life reflected in how we govern, how we engage one another, and how we respond to the challenges before us; whether we confront economic hardship, climate shocks, or high expectations of value; we must do so as one people, bound by shared past and inspired by common destiny.
It was clearly within such frame of mind that I, earlier today, placed goodwill telephone calls to former Presidents Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and George Weah, as well as eminent national leaders, including Benoni Wilfred Urey and Alexander Benedict Cummings.
I also reached out to the Liberia Council of Churches and the National Muslim Council of Liberia, as well as the Chairman of the National Council of Chiefs and Elders.
This is our own way of forging the spirit of unification and inclusion, assuring all that our doors remain open for any meaningful engagement that we have in nation building,” the President said.
Meanwhile, Pres. Bokai has called on Liberians commemorate this important day with recommitment to the principles of national unity, patriotism, and collective progress.
He added: “Let’s each do our part, wherever we are and in whatever we do to build a Liberia that is peaceful, equitable, and prosperous for all.”