Congo Town – President George M. Weah has commended the Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) and its partner, the UNHCR, for unwavering support in the realization of the construction of the 22-office headquarters project.
Speaking during the dedication of the LRRRC’s newly constructed headquarters, President Weah, who described himself as an affiliate of refugees due to Liberia’s 14 years of civil crisis, lauded the work implemented by the institution and affiliate agencies amidst the challenges and substances.
According to him, the commitment of the UNHCR to invest substantial resources in the development of a local office for the administration of refugees indicates an extraordinary gesture that the government acknowledges graciously.
President Weah said, “Today, as we inaugurate this complex, we are extending our capacity to provide much relief to those in search of solace and stability.”
“I am reminded of the profound responsibility we bear in catering to the needs of returnees and refugees,” he emphasized. “The dedication of this national headquarters building adds another chapter to numerous projects that I have had the honor of inaugurating and commissioning during my tenure.”
The Liberian Leader stated that the new headquarters will not only promise a simple working environment but also stand as a symbol to enhance productivity in the critical services that the LRRRC provides to the public.
He emphasized that the dedication of the building underscores the commitment to ending the burdensome practice of government offices operating out of private buildings.
President Weah further stressed that the effective utilization of major resources to their maximum potential reflects the CDC-led government’s dedication to changing the landscape of Liberia and enhancing the lives of its people.
“The decision to construct purpose-built facilities such as the one before us aligns with our broader vision for national development. It is, therefore, with deep humility as well as immersed pride that I observe various institutions of government building their own offices across the nation,” he added.
Speaking earlier, the Executive Director of the LRRRC, Festus Logan, who disclosed that the headquarters is the first constructed in West Africa, said it is the result of the dedication exhibited by the Liberia chapter in providing international protection for asylum-seekers, refugees, migrants, and other vulnerable groups in the borders of Liberia.
Logan, who stated that the issue of LRRRC renting privately-owned buildings has come to an end, emphasized that the headquarters’ construction will alleviate expenditure on the government.
He indicated that the LRRRC would ensure its mandate by continuing to demonstrate its commitment to protecting international asylum-seekers, refugees, returnees, and other people of concern.
Addressing the occasion, UNHCR Representative to Liberia, Antony Akumu-Abogi, said the headquarters will enable the LRRRC to stand on its own as a government agency responsible for the protection needs of refugees.
He emphasized that it would further enable a sizable number of stateless people, those at risk of statelessness, and locally integrating ex-refugees, especially those of Ivorian descent who are undergoing the process towards durable protection solutions, including legal integration into Liberia.
“Liberia continues to provide an exemplary protection environment for the people UNHCR works with, and this has gone a long way in ensuring UNHCR Liberia, through the LRRRC and the Ministry of Interior, delivers its mandate within Liberia,” he said.
Adding, “The building will serve its protection role but additionally it will stand as another edifice and legacy of the UN presence in Liberia.”