By Lewis S. Teh
The visiting United States Congressional Delegation to Liberia headed by the House’s committee chair on foreign affairs Representative Gregory Meeks says they are proud of progress made by Liberia over the years.
“Mr. Mayor, we’re proud and honored to see the progress Liberia has made in the celebration 200 years of the Bicentennial and to be on the soil that represents freedom”, Rep. Meeks said Monday, February 22, 2022, when he met with Monrovia Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee here.
He says the delegation decided to visit Liberia to take a look at progress achieved and to join the country celebrates 200 years of freedom in what he describes as “a land of great potential.”
The Congressional delegation was received by Mayor Koijee and subsequently taken to the Executive Mansion where members of the U.S. Congress met with President Weah and members of his cabinet behind closed doors.
Making remarks on the ground of the Executive Mansion, Mayor Koijee thanked the delegation for visiting Liberia especially when the country is celebrating 200 years of existence.
He then decorated the congressional members with Liberia’s traditional attires with red, white and blue stripes, representing the national colors as a symbol of appreciation, saying “For and on behalf of the city government we like to welcome each and every one of you to Liberia, we also want to use this occasion to present the key of the city to you for continuous support giving our country.”
Mayor Koijee notes that it is a great honor to receive the US congressional delegation, saying their arrival here clearly signifies the continuation of the U.S. long-standing support to Liberia, especially through its Embassy near Monrovia.
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The US delegation also met with President Weah and held talks with members of the cabinet, including the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Gender, Children and Social Protection, State for Presidential Affairs, Post and Telecommunications, Information and Defense, respectively, among others.
Recently, U.S. President Joe Biden dispatched a delegation to Monrovia for the official launch of the Bicentennial led by his Special Assistant and Senior Director for Africa at the National Security Council Ms. Dana Banks. It also included U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Michael McCarthy, Mr. Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, and Rev. Dr. Teresa Jefferson-Snorton, Bishop of the Fifth Episcopal District of the Christian Methodist Episcopal Church and Chair of the Governing Board, National Council of Churches in the United States.
During the visit here, the delegation also signed a bilateral agreement of approximately US$55 million to improve the health of Liberians over the next five years and met with the Elections Coordinating Committee to reiterate the United States’ commitment to free and fair elections in Liberia.
Recently, four members of the United States Congressional House, including Rep Meeks issued a joint resolution to Congress, calling on the U.S. Department of State and the Department of Treasury, respectively to continue to impose targeted sanctions and other measures against those responsible for undermining the rule of law as well as the faith and trust of the Liberian people through the conduct of corruption, gross violations of human rights and other acts that threaten the peace and security of Liberia.
The resolution issued by the 117th Congress in its 2nd Session encouraged Liberia to redouble its efforts to counter corruption, advance the causes of human rights, and implement critical economic reforms necessary to accelerate sustainable economic growth and human capital development.
The U.S. House of Representatives further resolved that it remains committed to nurturing the enduring ties between the people and the Governments of the United States and Liberia, including thru the provision of United States support for a strong civil society, reputable and accountable institutions, transparency, and other tenets of good governance that should lay a solid foundation for Presidential elections here in 2023. Editing by Jonathan Browne
