Monrovia, Liberia – The formation of a five-person committee to discuss future strategies for tackling the numerous issues facing the country has resulted from a one-day consultative meeting of church leaders regarding the political, economic, and social landscape following the 2023 presidential and legislative elections.
The purpose of the gathering, which was sponsored by the Faith and Justice Network, was to influence public opinion dialog, promote unity, and fight for justice and peace in Liberia.
The purpose of the meeting, according to Reverend Doctor Tolbert Thomas Jallah, Executive Director of the Faith and Justice Network, who presided over the gathering on behalf of Bishop Samuel Quire, the Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, was to find out what stakeholders thought about the donor’s decision to stop supporting the FJN projects in Liberia.
The conversation focused on assessing the political, economic, and social climate in Liberia following the most recent elections, identifying opportunities and challenges for the country, and investigating cooperative approaches to resolving them.
The panelists also discussed initiatives to reinforce the church’s role in fostering healing, reconciliation, and societal cohesiveness in Liberia, as well as the creation of suggestions and action plans for positive interaction with stakeholders in civic society.
Mrs. Musu Kamara, the lead consultant at the Faith and Justice Network, offered an assessment at the conclusion of the project titled “Promoting Citizens’ Participation in Public Policies Formulation and Implementation through Churches within the Mano River Basin,” discussing the challenges encountered and the lessons learned.
Discussion participants brought up issues related to health, drug abuse, the nation’s dehumanizing and appalling prison conditions, access to justice, the war and economic crimes court, the rise in domestic and gender-based violence, human rights, peace, and interfaith networking during the deliberations.
Dr. Canon Harmon Browne of Saint Timothy Episcopal Church, New Georgia Township, summarized the main key points and suggested future actions by saying that further thought is required to incorporate the suggestions and worries of every participant into an appropriate text.
Among the many people in attendance were the following: Company Wesseh, a former senator from River Gee County and signatory to the Comprehensive Peace Accord; Reverend Doctor James Selle, the bishop of the Episcopal Church of Liberia; and Reverend Father Dennis Cephus Nimene, the secretary general of the Catholic Bishop Conference of Liberia.
Reported by: Augustine Octavius
Contact: +231777463963
Email: augustineoctavius@gmail.com
