𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿 𝗞𝗼𝗼𝗻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗡𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗛𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗨𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝘁 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁

In a powerful address delivered at Liberia’s National Healing, Reconciliation, and Unity Day in Monrovia, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon urged all Liberians to embrace the nation’s painful past as a foundation for lasting peace and collective progress. Speaking under the national theme, “Healing Our Past, Building Our Tomorrow, Together,” Speaker Koon described the day as a solemn opportunity for reflection, remembrance, and renewed commitment to national unity. “This is a moment for Liberia to reflect, remember, and renew our shared commitment to unity,” Speaker Koon declared. “We are gathered not just to honor the dead, but to embrace a promise of a bright future for generations to come.” He praised President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr, for his bold and symbolic leadership, citing the recent state-led reburial ceremonies of former Presidents Samuel Kanyon Doe and William R. Tolbert Jr.—two figures emblematic of Liberia’s turbulent past. “Though these acts were state functions,” Speaker Koon said, “they serve as a powerful roadmap toward reconciliation, urging us to confront our historical wounds so they may no longer define us.” He further stressed the growing momentum toward the establishment of a war crimes court in Liberia, calling it a necessary step in the nation’s journey from impunity to justice. “There can be no true healing without accountability,” the Speaker asserted. “Let us choose justice over silence, and truth over denial.” In his address, Speaker Koon laid out a moral framework for national healing and reconciliation: Let peace prevail over vengeance, Let unity triumph over division, Let justice guide our path forward. “This day, this moment, is a call to action,” he emphasized. “Not merely to remember, but to commit: to dialogue, to healing, to inclusive nation-building.” Calling on fellow citizens and leaders, he concluded with a stirring message of hope and determination: “Together, we can ensure that the tragedies of our history become the roots of our shared strength, and that we, as Liberians, move forward in unity.”