By Precious D. Freeman
The College of West Africa Global Alumni Association (CWAGAA) has renovated and turned over the Melville B. Cox Building valued at US$50,000 to the Board of Trustees and Administration of the institution.
The ceremony which took place on Friday, February 4, 2022 at the school’s hall, brought together alumni from the classes of 70s, 78, 79, 93, 80, and 74 which saw in persons the GSA Director-General, Mary Broh, the former CBL Executive Governor, Milton Weeks; NASSCORP Director-General, Dewitt Von Ballmoos and Madam Decontee King-Sackie, respectively.
The colorful event was also attended by the Resident Bishop of the Liberia Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church, Samuel J.Quire and the pastor of the First United Methodist Church, Dr. Julius Y.K.Z. Williams as well as some current students, among others.
Speaking at the turning over ceremony, the president of the CWAGAA, James M. Weeks, Jr., told the body that CWA had lost its place of prominence among secondary schools for many reasons.
“When I was a student at CWA, there were four regular funding sources that operated the school: The Liberia Annual Conference, The Board of the Global Missions of the United Methodist Church, Tuition and subsidy from the government, which every institution in the country received. Today, CWA has only one funding source which is tuition,” he said.
According to him, the lack of funding and resources has brought the CWA to this perilous juncture in its rich history recounting sadly that, “Having produced many leaders of our beloved country, at all levels of public and private enterprises, CWA light now flickers very dimly.”
Mr. Weeks, who is a member of the class of 1974, disclosed that in 1832, Cox left his home in Raleigh, NC setting sail to shores just a few miles away from where is now located as the home of the CWA, to die within four months.
However, his (Cox) dedication, focus, and sacrifice were the impetus for this great institution.
“Melville B. Cox is not setting sail again to fix CWA. He has done his part. The task now falls on us, the alumni of this school, to meet the challenge and begin the process to “fix us”. We must “fix us.” We cannot sit complacently waiting on others to “fix us,” the CWAGAA president told members.