Legacy not in words, but Action

A Liberian Prelate says the leadership of the country must be expressed in the infrastructure it will leave because legacy is not in words, but action.

“Our leadership must be expressed in the infrastructure we leave; legacy is not in words, it’s in action. Don’t leave legacy by your name, but the things your name leaves – that’s what we call legacy,” the Rev. Foday Karpeh said, as he cautioned President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Vice President Joseph Boakai and Legislators and citizenry recently at the Barcclayville City Hall in Grand Kru County during an intercessory sermon in observance of Liberia’s 168th Independence Anniversary.

The Liberian prelate warned that it would be a “waste of time” if the nation’s educational system does not prepare the human resource for the development of the country. “25 years from now, we will be old people; the next generation is sitting out there. They’re looking at us on the sidelines Mr. Vice President, Madam President- they’re asking us what will these people do? What have these people planned for us; where are these people taking us?” he said, also cautioning members of the Legislature here that the young people were on the sidelines looking at the laws that they make and the way leaders were engaging the nation.

“… It means that following is critical to national transformation; when the people who are following us are not clear about the context of our conduct, when they are not clear about the policies that we are making, that’s an issue,” he indicated.

He admonished Liberians to invest in their country because “where your treasure is, there your mouth is”. Rev. Karpeh wondered what’s in Liberia to attract visitation by tourists when it lacks decent visibility, public libraries, parks, national theater and standard public buildings for occasions.

“In other countries,” he said, “the people celebrate their indigenous languages, unique dress code and infrastructural progress.” But for Liberia, he observed, citizens have for almost two centuries not been able to take control of their narratives which begin “beyond our shores.”

“If people want to describe us, what do they point to? If they want to come home, what will they see? If they want to learn, what can we teach them that are only available here?” he asked. To turn the tide, he suggested, Liberians must begin to invest in tourism, as the lack of tourism areas justify why the rest of the African countries are not coming to Sanniquellie, Nimba County, where the Organization of African Unity, now African Union, was signed.

He urged Liberians to begin to build durable and attractive infrastructures in their native communities like “the President’s village, the Speaker’s district, the director’s farm” in an attempt to encourage people to leave Monrovia and invest in their native communities.

He, meanwhile, urged Liberians, particularly the young people to be respectful to their leaders- even in the event of making known their grievances. Rev. Karpeh warned that any generation that does not honor its leaders will not progress, encouraging constructive engagements with leaders of the country.

“God has blessed us; why are we like this,” he asked, saying the people “disrespect everybody, nobody honor leaders and “we desecrate everything.” By Winston W. Parley – Edited by George Barpeen