The government of Liberia through President Joseph Nyuma Boakai has concluded activities marking a nationwide national healing, reconciliation and remembrance program for victims of the Civil War, Ebola and Covid-19.
The ceremony was held in Monrovia on Saturday July 5, 2025 at the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Ministerial Complex in Congo Town- climaxing the national recognition and honouring of Liberia’s former Presidents William R. Tolbert Jr. and Samuel K. Doe whose tragic deaths reflect a painful era in the country’s history.
Speaking at the occasion, President Boakai acknowledged citizens willingness to reconcile but also reminded them that, the process has been opened ensuring that no Liberian is left behind in the journey of remembrance and reconciliation.
According to the Liberian Chief Executive, by acknowledging the past and honouring their memories, Liberia can move pass it and open a new chapter.
President Boakai emphasized that, since the guns were silenced in 2003, Liberia has walked a long and hard road but has since been on a determined path.
“We have endeavoured to rebuild from ashes and ruins, we have rebuilt roads and Schools but as a nation our greatest task has been rebuilding trust, restoring faith, and to reconnect communities”, he added.
Speaking further, he highlighted the countless sons and daughters who never returned home, the mothers who buried their children too soon, families who are still in doubts as to what went wrong, children who grew up in refugee camps, makeshift school buildings and in communities where they only came out to play when the guns were temporarily silenced.
“Some will say move on and let by gone be by gone, how does a child forget the brutal execution of his parents and then forcibly conscripted to bear arms. These wounds are not distant memories, they live with us, the horror stories may have shaped us in one way or another, yet they must not define us instead these painful past should guide how we live and how we heal president”, Boakai disclosed.
The Liberian leader stated, as president and citizen of this great nation accept my formal apology, to every victims of our civil conflict, every family broken, every dream shattered, we say sorry, adding that the state could have done better instead was used as an agency.
President Boakai commits his government’s effort to implementing key recommendations of the truth and reconciliation commission reviving national history project to rewrite a comprehensive and inclusive history of Liberia that reflects the country’s diversity.
