MONROVIA – Former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has called on African countries to create strong ties with their diaspora communities to boost global, economic and cultural stability and development.
By Gerald C. Koinyeneh – [email protected]
Former President Sirleaf made the call in Bridgetown, the capital of Barbados in the Caribbean where she participated in the commemoration of the 159th Anniversary of the voyage of former African slaves from Barbados to Liberia. There, she joined Barbados’ Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Liberian pilgrims and scores of Barbadians in the plaque laying ceremony in recognition of the signal moment when the ship Brig CORA sailed from Bridgetown to Monrovia, Liberia, on April 6, 1865 with freed African slaves.
Speaking during a fireside chat, ex-president Sirleaf said the African diaspora has an important role to play in boosting trade and other opportunities, and vice versa.
“I think it is very important – all of our countries have a very strong diaspora,” she said. “I am sure Barbados has, most of the Caribbean countries have, our own country has, other African countries have that. Sometimes we have not modeled them fully.”
She praised Ghana for making some significant strides in connecting its diaspora community. “Ghana, I think, they have done a great job being able to mobilize the support not only for financial resources, but the support for getting recognition of the country. They have been able to have events that bring citizens back home, and I think more African countries are trying to do that.”
Last week, President Sirleaf was in Barbados to attend the Sankofa Moment Commemorative Plaque Laying Ceremony marking the 159th anniversary of the departure to Liberia. Dozens of other Liberians whose ancestors made the trip also made the pilgrimage this year as part of Liberia’s ongoing quest to reconnect with a country that played a key role in its foundation.
Liberians also engaged in a number of educational and cultural heritage events that include a Heritage and Island Tour hosted by the Division of Culture and The UWI’s Faculty of History and Humanities; an Archives Genealogy Marketplace, hosted by the Department of Archives and the Prime Minister’s Office; and a Liberia-Barbados Business Roundtable and Exhibition.
President Sirleaf thanked the Barbadian Government for the warm reception and also thanked retired Liberian ambassador Lorenzo Witherspoon for his immense effort in making the ceremony a success.
On her impression about the pilgrimage to Barbados this year, she said: “The enthusiasm of everybody, you just see the joy in coming together, bringing family together you haven’t seen for years or for decades. Seeing them come together, to reunite, it assures you that of that ripple effect, to continue to grow. I applaud the Prime Minister Mottley, because it would have not happened unless she spearheaded it, promoted it. I applaud Ambassador Witherspoon and his team.”
Former President Sirleaf, dubbed the Iron Lady of Africa, was the first elected female President on the continent. She led Liberia in its post conflict era, overseeing the rehabilitation of the ex-combatants – mostly child soldiers and canceling the country’s debts to the tune of nearly US$5 billion and restoring its credibility after a 14-year devastating civil war. Part of her legacy also includes leading her country’s effort in combating the Ebola epidemic.
During the fireside chart, the former Liberian leader largely talked about her rise to politics, her administration’s achievements and challenges, and her post-presidency activities. While she named these accomplishments as some of her high marks, she said the ability to maintain peace is her administration’s highest accomplishment. Speaking further, she mentioned that significant strides were made in the health and education sectors as well as support to market women in the informer sector. However, the slow pace of infrastructure development, especially road connectivity was some of the challenges she faced.
In her post presidency, she revealed that she has dedicated the rest of her life to the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Presidential Center to help nurture women leaders. Currently, she said the center has supported women in 19 African countries, with some making significant strides in their domestic politics.
The former Liberian leader noted that she has been guided by the moral lessons taught by her mother, the “Three Hs – honesty, hard work and humility,” and inspired her audience to be consistent in their work in order to achieve.
“Know who you are, who you want to be and what you want to achieve. Have the courage to stay on course. There will be digression, obstacles, no doubt. Stay on course. And most of the time, you will achieve it.”
Prime Minister Mottley, also in attendance, thanked Madam Sirleaf for her astute leadership role in post-war Liberia. She praised the Liberian leader for her towering leadership role she continues to play and to inspire the young generation of women, not only in Africa but the world at large.
Speaking earlier, Dr. Shantal Monroe-Knight, Minister of Culture in the office of the Prime Minister said President Sirleaf’s life story is a story of resilience.
“Tonight, in this fireside chat, it is a journey of reclaiming – one story of a woman who is strong, transformational, whose life story is also a one of pain and persecution. It is also a chronicle of our story. Because the story that we have as a people, is one of pain, brutality, but it is also a story of resilience,” she said.
“And as we invite you tonight to listen to the story of resilience, I hope that it reminds all of us that it is not enough to just exist, it is not enough in our singleness to be, but in order to be able to fully reclaim, we have to thrive, and to thrive, we have to reclaim.”