His Excellency President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr. has challenged the people of his native Lofa County to forge a united front to restore the County to its once enviable status as the Breadbasket of the Liberian nation. The President’s call was contained in his keynote address delivered on his behalf by his designee, Mr. Anthony V. Kesselly, Deputy Minister for Public Affairs, at the Ministry of State for Presidential Affairs. The event was the Inaugural Ball and Fundraising Dinner of the Federation of Lofa Associations in the Americas (FLAA), held on Saturday, October 4 in the City of Columbus, Ohio, United States of America.
In the President’s message, Deputy Minister Kesselly reminded his fellow Lofaians that the Liberian Leader, the Grand Uncle of the County, is a seasoned elder whose passionate interest is in the fostering of peace, reconciliation, healing and harmony. He said President Boakai views the prevalence of the climate of peace and togetherness as the key necessity for a workable pursuit of the nation’s social economic development for the attainment of prosperity. The President’s envoy cited multiple instances at various occasions in which the President elaborated his perspectives on the need for the nation to be reconciled and set on a course of common purpose.
Mr. Kesselly referred to the President’s lucid narration of his vision at the recently concluded Liberia Diaspora Conference in Washington DC and the 60th Commemorative Anniversary of the Establishment of the four counties of Bong, Grand Gedeh, Lofa and Nimba in 1964, held in Voinjama, Lofa County, last December. Mr. Kesselly told his audience of Lofa citizens that the President looks up to them to “rise up to the role of bridge builders, pushing the cause of rapprochement, striving to erase lines of antagonistic demarcation and nudging perceived enemies to pull toward each other.” He conveyed the President’s strong pledge to lend substantial support to any undertaking in the diaspora that is targeted at positively impacting the situation in the County.
The ceremony featured the formal induction into office of the newly elected corps of FLAA officials headed by Mr. James Saywala Kennedy from the state of Texas. Other officials inducted were Vice President Lucia Dunor of Ohio, Secretary Aaron Kpehe of Kentucky, Treasurer Dedeh Wiaka of Ohio, Financial Secretary Dwanah S. Dwanah of New Jersey, and Chaplain Reverend Dr. Joe B.M. Biaty of Boston. Another highlight of the occasion was the honoring by FLAA of the two children of the late former FLAA President, Mr. Jusu Hena, along with his Sister, Madam Cecily Hena Nah. Mr. Kesselly, on behalf of President Boakai, presented the plaque to the family. The immeasurable sacrifices made by their deceased father and brother were acknowledged and the family was highly commended. Famed Liberian Musical Artist Ophelia Dawolo was on hand to give a rendition of her widely famous “Come Home” (Kapa Kapa Liberia).
