By Bill W. Cooper
President George M. Weah has praised the Golden Image Awards (GIA) as a national pride that promotes peace, unity, reconciliation, and development across Liberia.
He said the future of the GIA remains bright and pledged his Government’s continued support to the organizer, the Crusaders for Peace, in its works to advance national peace and reconciliation throughout the country.
The Golden Image Awards is Liberia’s version of “the Oscars” in the US. It was launched in 2011 by the Liberia Crusaders for Peace (LCP) to honor and recognize local and international personalities who have made great impact on their societies.
This year marks the 12th Edition of the GIA since its founding, and the award ceremony is being convened this year, as it has been for the last five years, by President George Weah.
Additionally, the initiative is an outcome of a vision that was conceived by the Liberia Crusaders for Peace 12 years ago, as the vision is premised on the need to honor and celebrate unsung heroes whose contributions to society, ranging from peace, development through investment, health, education, leadership, democracy, justice, human rights, arts, culture, and other human development initiatives nationally or internationally, often go unnoticed.
In his special statement, delivered during the ceremony on Friday, July 21, 2023 at the Monrovia City Hall, the President noted that the GIA has begun a national tradition every year, giving due recognition to individuals and institutions that have distinguished themselves during the past year in their daily undertakings.
He expressed optimism that the awards that are won collectively and individually would serve as an inspiration and a catalyst, spurring works and deeds that give the honorees worthy recognition.
“This year is also a special celebration in our collective quest to show the world, yet again, about our commitment to advance our democratic credentials by holding free, fair, transparent, and democratic elections that will satisfy international standards,” the President asserted.
He further stated that he was of the conviction that such an undertaking will demonstrate to the world that Liberia has truly turned the page from its recent checkered history, and is now on an irreversible path of enduring peace and lasting democracy.
The President also commented on the pending October 10 polls, saying that the theme of this year’s Awards, “Giving Hope to Our People through Peace, Non-Violence and Credible Elections”, could not have been a clearer clarion call.
He added, “It signifies a strong commission to demonstrate to the world our collective resolve to keeping our democratic credentials on track and no matter how deep our political cleavages and differences, we will go to the polls avoiding any form of violence, in order to choose our leaders in an atmosphere of peace.”
President Weah thanked the GIA CEO and Founder, Amb. Julie Endee, and the Crusaders for Peace, for putting together such a splendid program which he said came at the right time, especially so that the country is about to celebrate its independence.
The 2023 and 13th Edition of the Golden Image Award bestowed upon the Liberian Foreign Minister, Amb. Dee-Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr., the Golden Image George Manneh Weah Presidential Leadership Award” in the national category.
The Golden Image Award is an integral part of the official celebration of the Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Liberia and this year’s award was classified into three categories including local, national and international.
Some awardees included the Deputy Speaker of the 54th Legislature, Cllr. Fonati Kofa, and the Chief of Mission and Change d’Affaires of the United States Embassy accredited near Monrovia, among others.
Foreign Minister Kemayah, upon taking over the helm of power in 2020, embarked on a reform process.
The minister is credited with reducing the passport price by 20% in all categories at no cost to the government’s revenue, improving the ranking of the Liberian passport, and providing more scholarship opportunities to Liberians across the world. Currently, the Ministry is undergoing massive renovations that have not gone on since it was constructed more than fifty years ago.
The Chief Convener, President Weah, in whose honor the award is named, presented the award to the Liberian Foreign Minister, an act pundits have described as a significant milestone and the highest level of recognition of Minister Kemayah’s reform initiatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Recently, during the Independence celebration ceremony of the United States of America, Amb. Michael McCathy hailed the Foreign Minister for the level of reformation being carried out at the Ministry.
Making remarks, Foreign Minister Kemayah thanked Amb. Juli Endee and the Golden Image Award’s family for their recognition and the value they continue to add to humanity by showcasing the diversity and beauty of Liberian society.
“We also like to thank you and your committee, Amb. Juli Endee, for sending three awards, through merit, of course, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: one to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an institution for the level of work being done there, to Deputy Minister Dweh Gray for her dedicated services in your own words, and one to me, your humble servant, for the level of reform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Liberian Foreign Minister, dedicating the three awards to President Weah, stated that it could be remixed of him if he did not acknowledge the role of President Weah in the reform work at the ministry. Minister Kemayah praised President Weah, saying, “You showed belief in us when detractors doubted us.”
It can be recalled that in late 2020, when he took over the helm of power at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Kemayah embarked on a reform process that among other targeted improving policies, strengthening Liberia’s bilateral and multilateral ties, enhancing human resource development, strengthening transparency and accountability and developing infrastructure at the Ministry.
Earlier, the GIA Executive Director, Julie Endee, thanked government through the Ministries of Foreign Affairs, Information, Finance, Public Works, and Commerce, including NaFAA, Maritime and the Central Bank of Liberia and the international community for the financial and moral support in ensuring that the program was a success.
She added, “Your support played a pivotal role in making the 13th edition of the Golden Image Awards 2023 a resounding triumph, leaving a lasting impact on the landscape of Liberia.”
Speaking during the award ceremony, Liberia’s Culture Ambassador, Executive Director of Liberia Crusaders for Peace, and Event Organizer, Ambassador Juli Endee, recounted the many achievements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Amb. Endee particularly restated what the former US Ambassador, McCarthy, said when he referenced the transformation that is taking place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
In a communication to Minister Kemayah, the Executive Director of Liberia Crusaders for Peace and Event Planner, Amb. Juli Endee, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Golden Image Awards, the Liberian Crusaders for Peace, in collaboration with the Government of Liberia, extended their warmest compliments and informed him of his selection as winner and recipient of the 2023 Golden Award in the national level category of Leadership.
“Your selection comes following a thorough research and vetting of names and profiles of individuals, organizations, and countries that were submitted by the network of national and international committee members to the National Secretariat of the Golden Image Award for scrutiny in September 2022 to February 2023”.
The letter further mentioned that Minister Kemayah’s profile, which was read during the official award ceremony, proved captivating and possessed all the attributes listed in the selection criteria; hence, the committee selected him as the winner of the “George Manneh Weah Presidential Award.”
