27/07/2026
Liberia at 179. A Call for Accountability, Inclusion, and Respect for Creative Institutions
Excellency Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Sr., President of the Republic of Liberia. Honorable Members of the 55th National Legislature. the Judiciary. distinguished government officials; the National Tourism Authority led by Director General Honorable Princess Eva Cooper. fellow creative stakeholders. members of the Liberia Designers and Fashion Council International (LDFCI), and all Liberians.
Happy 179th Independence Day!
As we commemorate 179 years of nationhood, this occasion should be more than a celebration. It should be a time for honest reflection on our progress, our shortcomings, and our collective responsibility to build a stronger, more united Liberia.
Today, I extend my warmest wishes to every Liberian at home and abroad. At the same time, I feel compelled to raise a matter of national importance concerning the treatment of stakeholders within Liberia’s cultural and creative industries.
For many years, registered institutions under the National Tourism Authority, including the Liberia Designers and Fashion Council, the Liberia Professional Chefs Association, the Musicians Union, and other recognized creative organizations, have too often been excluded from major national events that are intended to showcase Liberia’s rich cultural heritage.
This pattern is deeply disappointing.
When budgets are approved for national celebrations, those resources should directly benefit the institutions established to carry out this work. Instead, these organizations are frequently sidelined while contracts are awarded to individuals based on personal relationships rather than transparency, fairness, or institutional capacity.
This practice undermines accountability, weakens our institutions, and discourages the very people who have dedicated their lives to preserving and promoting Liberia’s culture.
We witnessed this during previous Independence celebrations, where recognized cultural institutions stood outside as spectators while others were contracted to perform the very responsibilities these institutions were created to fulfill.
This should not continue.
A new Liberia cannot be built on old habits. National opportunities must not be personalized. Contracts intended for organized institutions should not be redirected to individuals simply because of personal connections. Public resources belong to the Liberian people and must be managed fairly, transparently, and responsibly.
If we criticize past governments for these practices, we cannot justify repeating the same mistakes today. Leadership demands consistency, integrity, and accountability, not selective justice or political convenience.
Our cultural and creative industries possess enormous potential to promote tourism, create employment, preserve our heritage, and improve Liberia’s international image. Yet these sectors cannot thrive when the institutions representing them are consistently overlooked.
As we celebrate 179 years of independence, let this be a turning point.
Let us embrace transparency over favoritism, inclusion over exclusion, and accountability over personal interest. Let us build institutions instead of personalities. Let us ensure that every recognized stakeholder has a fair opportunity to contribute to national development.
The Independence celebration is designed to showcase the beauty, diversity, and heritage of Liberia. Therefore, the planning and implementation of these events should meaningfully involve the National Tourism Authority and all of its recognized cultural stakeholders. Together, we can present to the world a Liberia that is united, professional, creative, and proud of its identity.
Our appeal is not one of confrontation but of constructive engagement. We believe that dialogue, fairness, and mutual respect can strengthen our institutions and move our nation forward.
As Liberians, we all share the responsibility to protect our democracy, strengthen our institutions, and promote inclusive governance that benefits every citizen.
Happy 179th Independence Day, Liberia.
May God continue to bless our Republic and guide us toward a future built on unity, justice, accountability, and equal opportunity for all.
The Management
Liberia Designers & Fashion
Council International (LDFCI)
Republic of Liberia 🇱🇷
Liberia National Tourism AuthorityThe Liberia Professional Chefs AssociationEmbassy of Liberia in JapanThe Ministry of Foreign Affairs, LiberiaOriana Fashion Collection.
