Monrovia – The Eminent Chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee, has praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his Administration for the proposed Liberia Diaspora Conference on National Development, which is slated for some time this year in Washington D.C.
Speaking in an exclusive interview on Monday, January 27, Eminent Wettee acknowledged that the Liberian leader has joined his past compatriots in recognizing the immense contributions of the Liberian diaspora community to their home country.
Delivering his second State of the Nation Address (SONA), President Boakai mentioned how his administration believes in the potential of Liberians in the diaspora.
“My government believes the Liberian Diaspora community is potentially one of the country’s important development assets. The diaspora is an extension of our citizenry, having left the homeland in large numbers in the aftermath of the bloody 1980 military coup d’etat and the devastating civil war that ensued,” the President said.
When the President delivered his first SONA on January 22nd, 2024, he made it clear: “Liberians in the Diaspora have a stake in the future of their country, and my administration will ensure that their contributions to Liberia are institutionalized and fully harnessed.”
According to the President, “It is in recognition of this that we have instituted policies and have engaged members of the Diaspora community in the past year across all facets of national life and development. A new program styled the “Annual Year of Return” was designed to organize the yearly visits of Liberians to the motherland in ways that make their stay not only welcoming but also a means to explore opportunities to bond with their compatriots and invest in the development of their country.” Eminent Wettee was the Co-chair for the Organizing Committee of the “Liberian Diaspora Annual Return 2024”.
“As my government proposed last year, a highlight of this engagement will be the holding of the first Liberia Diaspora Conference on National Development in April 2025 in Washington, DC. This conference will provide a platform to discuss, re-engage, and participate in their country’s development.
The Liberian Leader then commended his predecessor for working to eliminate the “unjust barriers imposed on citizens.”
“Once again, I would like to commend the Legislature and the previous administration for their work to eliminate the unjust barriers imposed on citizens who have chosen to seek opportunities abroad. I am pleased that the slogan ‘Once a Liberian, always a Liberian’ now holds genuine significance.”
On December 19, 2024, the First Lady, Madam Katumu Y. Boakai and her husband, President Boakai honored Eminent Wettee for his dedication to uniting Liberians at home and abroad. The First Lady specifically gowned his Eminence on behalf of the President and nation and applauded his selflessness and patriotism.
“We are so proud of you. The idea that you came here, despite losing your mother, shows that Liberia is above all,” the First Lady said.
She continued: “Your love and passion for our country are evident. Please accept our sympathy on behalf of the President and the people of Liberia. Thank you for all your sacrifices.”
Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee is widely recognized as the foremost advocate for dual citizenship in Liberia. He is the Chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD). He is a former President of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA). His continuous advocacy and contributions to the dual citizenship movement have earned him national and international accolades.
Meanwhile, Eminent Wettee is appealing to the President that he should kindly consider also organizing the Liberia Diaspora Conference on National Development also in Europe and other parts of the diaspora.
