President George Weah has by Proclamation declared Friday, February 11, 2022, Armed Forces Day and is to be observed as National Holiday throughout the Republic, with strict adherence to the prescribed COVID-19 health protocols.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the proclamation is in consonance with the National Legislature declaration of the 11th day of February of each year as National Armed Forces Day and is declared as a National Holiday, the Day is in recognition of the vital role the Armed Forces of the Republic of Liberia plays in defending and protecting Liberia’s territorial integrity and its people from foreign aggression and upholding the social and political liberty of the people of Liberia as enshrined in the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia.
The Proclamation further states that 2022 marks the sixty-fifth anniversary of Armed Forces Day and will be celebrated at the Barclay Training Center under the theme: “Inter-Agency Cooperation as a Panacea for Contemporary Security Challenges”, with former Special Representative of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) to Liberia Ambassador Babatunde Olanrewaju Ajisomo serving as the Guest Speaker.
The Government of the Republic of Liberia found it necessary to recognize the talents, services, patriotism, loyalty, and gallantry for the upkeep of this Noble Heritage by those men and women who are now memorialized through the establishment of the Department of Veterans Affairs, as ordered by the Act of the Legislature of Liberia of 22nd July 2008.
“Recognizing the professional development of our men and women in arms, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Liberia has been reinvigorated to discharge its constitutional responsibilities of safeguarding the Liberian borders; including, being vigilant for any foreign aggression against the State; as well as directly and technically engaged in road construction efforts, international peacekeeping in Mali, Sudan, and South Sudan, and other sector initiatives across the country”, the Proclamation noted.
President George Manneh Weahhas, therefore, further direct and ordered all military and paramilitary organizations within the Republic to organize and execute appropriate programs, parades, and ceremonies in recognition of the Day, and that special attention and honor is given and paid to Veterans of the Army and the Coast Guard, who have been active and experienced actual Services therein, and who have upheld the tenets of democracy and human rights during service, and that also all government Offices, Public and Business Houses be closed on that day.
