Liberia observes International Day of Cooperatives tomorrow
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has by Proclamation declared tomorrow, Saturday, July 2, as International Day of Cooperatives, which is to be observed throughout the country as a Working Holiday.
According to a press release, the Proclamation calls on all citizens, government ministries, agencies, labour unions, civil society organizations, students, youth and women groups as well as international organizations concerned to join the Cooperative Movement of Liberia through the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) in executing appropriate programs befitting the occasion.
The CDA is joining the rest of the world to celebrate this year’s International Day of Cooperative under the global theme: “Co-operatives: the power to act for a sustainable future”. The release says the theme is a nod of support to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals as it is at this time that governments, international bodies and civil society are exploring how to best implement the 2030 Agenda.
The Proclamation is in consonance with the 1936 Cooperative Societies Act, enacted by the National Legislature of Liberia. The Act empowers the Cooperative Development Agency (CDA) to facilitate the organization of grass root associations, farmers and non-farmer based organization including women and youth groups into viable cooperative societies.
The CDA also registers, regulates and supervises the activities of all registered cooperative societies including apex cooperative bodies. On December 16, 1992, the General Assembly of the United Nations proclaimed the first Saturday of July every year to be celebrated as International Day of Cooperatives worldwide.
