Women in Peace Building Network or WIPNET, a Liberian advocacy group has been named winner of the George Weah Peace Prize for 2019.WIPNET won the peace prize at the Administrative Building in Kakata, Margibi County on Sunday, August 18, during the official celebration of the peace festival organized by the Crusaders for Peace headed by Liberia’s Culture Ambassador, JuliEndee.
The 2019 winner walked away with a cash prize of 1,000,000 Liberian Dollars.Speaking after receiving the award, the National Coordinator of WIPNET thanked the organizer and pledged commitment to promoting the peace of Liberia.
According to her, the group has always promoted the process of peace in the country,noting that they had prayed for Liberia during elections and the Ebola outbreak.
The organization said the recognition came as a surprise because it never crosses its mind it would have received such national award from the President.Presenting the award, Ambassador Endee said women of WIPNET have always been observed supporting peace processes in Liberia.
She stresses a need to recognize their activities which would encourage them in doing more towards peace.Explaining the rationale behind the award, she said it is named the George Weah Peace Prize, owing to the fact that President Weah during his football career flew the flag of Liberia very high around the world.
She said if one travelled abroad and identified himself as Liberian, he is immediately recognized as coming from George Weah’s Country.Ambassador Endee further observed that Mr. Weah during his football career visited Liberian refugees in foreign countries and consoled them during the civil crisis that rooted them out of the country.
She continued that the President now, served as Peace Ambassador under former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf due to his numerous contributions to peace, adding that it was based on these reasons the award is named the George Weah Peace Prize.The peace festival, which she averred is being celebrated for a second time in 2019 will be celebrated every year whether government supports it or not.
The program attended by national and international partners, representatives of the Government of Liberia, guests from Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Guinea and Liberians in general was supported by President Weah and his government along with partners.By Ramsey N Singbeh, Jr in Margibi
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