Liberian Red Cross elects new leadership

At its General Assembly held in Monrovia, the Liberia National Red Cross Society has elected and subsequently inducted new leadership into office.  The General Assembly which was held from December 7 to the 9, elected Mr. Jerome J.N. Clark as the LNRCS National President, followed by Mrs. Florence Napay, 1st Vice President; D. Mongar Grisby, 2nd Vice President, Joseph T. Nagbe, 3rd Vice President, and Arthur Glikay Treasurer, respectively.

Also elected is Zoway Zubah, Youth Representative to the Red Cross National Executive Committee for the next four years. President-elect Mr. Clarke has vowed to ensure transparency and accountability at the institution. “We owe responsibility to you, our staff, our partners, the Government of Liberi a and most of all, the vulnerable communities of this country to ensure accountability and transparency in the Red Cross,” he said.
“We have an image problem, and that will be our priority to regain. To avert the situation we have had, we need to prioritize transparency and accountability,” he stressed. LNRCS partners at the General Assembly had earlier warned they will not support or accept any situation of reverting to an interim leadership.
The partners said they are willing to support the Liberian Red Cross but the National Society needs to inspire their support by first helping itself to restore the public confidence, redeem its lost image, and rebuild its credibility.
Prior to the elections, Deputy Health Minister, Tolbert Nyansuah admonished the voters not to vote based on sentiment, but to restore the integrity of the Liberian Red Cross, and ensure transparency and accountability in its humanitarian operation.
Mr. Nyansuah acknowledged the immense humanitarian services of the Liberian Red Cross and challenged it to continue to grow better and stronger in delivering bigger services to communities and improve the lives of vulnerable people.
The LNRCS election was for the first time conducted by the National Elections Commission. Inducting the leadership in office, NEC Commissioner Davidetta Lansanah Browne said, the commission was pleased to have supported the process of free, fair and transparent elections of the Liberia National Red Cross Society.
She said the Commission hopes that the legitimacy of the new corps of officers will yield fruitful result, saying “By today’s election of a new leadership, Liberians and partners can be hopeful that the LNRCS will never revert to the past challenges that brought the organization to its needs.”
The Independent Interim CEO of the Liberian Red Cross, Joseph Muyambo, congratulated the National Elections Commission for supporting the election and challenged the new leadership to see the theme for the 48th Session of the General Assembly ‘Creating a Stable and Sustainable National Society with a Vision’ as a strategic direction in moving the LNRCS forward.
Since the dissolution of the Board of Governance, the LNRCS has been managed by a steering committee comprising of the government and the LNRCS’ Movement Partners. An Independent Interim CEO is appointed to manage the NS and report to the committee until the election of new governance members and the competitive recruitment of a Secretary General. Press statement