Monrovia – In its 8th year, the Golden Image Award (GIA) has now undoubtedly become Liberia’s platform of distinguished recognitions. According to Queen (Ambassador) Queen Juli Endee whose continuous hosting of the annual event has become a source of national pride, “this national event was born out of a desire to derive an initiative that recognizes individuals within Liberia and from elsewhere who have made valuable contributions to Liberia’s peace and continuing development efforts”.
By Nat Bayjay, an invitee for the 2018 GIA Award, [email protected]
True to her words, the GIA has not only become one of Liberia’s flagship programs, but that platform where the quest to have national identity comes out so competitively too.
In a very highly challenging economic and financial environment, Ambassador Endee and crew at the Liberia Crusaders for Peace must be hailed for successfully conducting, in straight, uninterrupted eight years, such an event which continues to leap from one stage to another in succeeding years. For instance, the addition of about a dozen international awardees at this year’s event far exceeds previous events on similar platforms in our country.
But you know that such an initiative is bound to go afar when a seven-month old President stamps his approval on it. The presence of the President, His Excellency George Manneh Weah, as the convener of the event, as well as the presence of other high-level Government officials, signify the new Liberian administration’s continuous support towards such a very worthy venture.
In complete gratitude, Ambassador Endee included in her remarks the following: “I would, therefore, like to thank the President for recognizing the importance of our effort and giving us the chance and his approval to continue.”
Well, that’s in addition to having as the ‘Image of the Award’ Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, immediate past president of the Republic of Liberia.
Out of a hundred nominees, the Secretariat of the GIA, in collaboration with its research and investigative partners spread out in other countries over five continents had a daunting task to finally narrow that down to just thirty.
When most would easily overlook the immense contributions of those in Liberia’s leeward counties, the GIA recognizes traditional and even midwifery personnel from the very unnoticeable corners of other parts of the country.
At the national front, the City Hall’s luminous event proved more of a post-electoral reconciliatory function. Hugs from and between members of the political class were crowned with the awarding of the ‘Democracy Award’ to the former political leader and president candidate of the opposition Liberty Party, Cllr. Charles Brumskine. Well, that was not to elude the unnoticeable scene at the high-table where President Weah and former Vice President Joseph N. Boakai sat next to each other and chatted in each other’s ears throughout the evening.
Ofcourse, the Liberian media, among several national recognitions, wasn’t forgotten. Veteran journalist Frank Sainworla whose heroic journalism during the infamous April 6, 1996 fracas sank deep into everyone’s memory was recognized. So was Dr. Jerry Browne whose fight against the Ebola virus is still hailed even two years after the end of the deadly virus. And the list of national achievers goes on.
And just when the temptations begin to set in to only focus on national achievers, the Secretariat goes out of not just the territorial confines of Liberia, but out of the African continent to recognize how other non-Liberians have worked towards humanity in general, with particular reference to how such works have impacted Liberia’s peace and continuing development efforts.
From China, the US, Nigeria and elsewhere on the globe, this year’s international awardees came in no short supply. That was enough to sell the Liberian hospitality to the global village. While international awardees return to their various homes with such positive story of our country, compatriots here and abroad are left with the impression that surely indeed a Liberian initiative of such caliber can be compared to others right here on the continent and elsewhere.
Above all, what stands out, among the over dozen awards, entertainment, and others, is Ambassador Endee’s passion to continue with this annual event which kick-starts the beginning of Liberia’s Independence Day festivities. And that is the pled to have the national government incorporate the GIA. That includes the inclusion of the GIA into subsequent national budget. In that way, the Traditional Queen and Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador who has been recognizing the contributions of others would have had herself honored.
The good news is that the President, in his remarks as the convener of the July 19 event, recounted his long-standing working relationship with Ambassador Endee, dating to Liberian refugees’ days in neighboring Ivory Coast. Though he joked about the Ambassador’s optimism to him (when he was still a footballer) that he would continue to spend his money on her initiatives, the President recommitted himself to supporting such a venture.
In that way, the GIA would remain a venture and an opportunity that promotes and encourages effective leadership, positive legacies, democracy, community engagement, and arts and culture.
Sustaining the GIA through a government direct budgetary initiative will send the Liberian crafted award, made of pure Liberian gold (about 24 carats), woods and other precious metals, into global advertisement of what our country has to showcase.