Appreciating Our Country’s Recognition

Liberia’s presence more among the comity nations once more continues to be manifested in the numerous recognitions the world-over. Since the inception of the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf Administration in 2006, following the 2005 general and Presidential elections, Liberia’s relations with the nations of the world has tremendously continued to improve with positive impacts.

Such international achievement is the direct consequence of the country’s adherence to international best practices as they relate to good governance-something which resulted to the cancellation of the country’s debts, multipurpose foreign investments, as well as infrastructural developments, including road reconstruction.

At the core of all of the foregoing is the leadership of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf whose admired integrity and stewardship continue to attract admirations from the international community’.  Not that it couldn’t be any other Liberian President at the moment, but President Sirleaf’s leadership traits and characteristics being exhibited over the years in the eyes of the international community may just be the major attributes of Liberia’s current successes.

Another mark of our country’s achievements is the presence of our country at the ongoing Group of 8 or G-8 Summit in the Northern Irish Resort Town of Lough Erne. Liberia is making its first ever appearance at a G-8 nations’ summit through its symbol-President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, at the invitation of British Prime Minister David Cameron.

President Sirleaf, who departed the country Sunday, is participating in the meeting in Lough Erne Golf Resort in Enniskillen, Northern Ireland being held under the theme: “Taxes, Trade and Transparency.” The Liberian Leader was invited to discuss with the Summit: transparency and trade. This is the first time a Liberian President is not only attending such a world class summit, but to deliver a paper before eight great leaders of the world.

It is also a pride to our nation for its leader to have been invited as one of the four African leaders- the Chairman of the African Union, Ethiopian Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn; the President of the African Union Commission, Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma and President Macky Sall of Senegal, to be among the most powerful leaders of the world.

Even though it may seem simple in the minds of some, especially those who feel that nothing at all is happening in Liberia, the fact that President Sirleaf is among world leaders under such recognition with the urge and ability to interact and convince them for assistance to her country as she has always done at other international conferences, it is practically a rewarding experience for us all as a nation.

Many of us are of the strongest convictions that just as Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf did in Japan and the United States recently, something good will, indeed, come out and from the 39th  G-8 Summit for Liberia. We must appreciate our country’s recognition owing to the presence of President Sirleaf at the G-8 Summit and the rewarding experience thereof.