By Bill W. Cooper
With just a day to the official opening of the October elections campaign, the standard bearer of the Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), Allen Brown, has announced Noosevett Janice Weah as his running mate in the upcoming October Presidential and Legislative elections.
Mr. Brown, who described his running mate as a seasoned educator, God-fearing woman and advocate for women’s rights, further stated that recognizing the importance of gender equality in leadership, he is confident in Mrs. Weah’s ability to bring diverse perspectives and expertise to their shared vision for Liberia’s future.
In her acceptance remark, Mrs. Weah thanked Mr. Brown and party executives for their confidence in her to serve as his running mate on the party’s ticket for the ensuing elections in October.
She added that with her experience in education, private sector management, and dedication to empowering marginalized groups, especially women and girls, she will add a strong voice to Brown’s campaign, bolstering their commitment to inclusivity and progress for all Liberians, irrespective of political or religious affiliation.
Meanwhile, he has unveiled an ambitious agenda, aimed at revitalizing economy, transforming the agricultural sector, and addressing various other pressing issues affecting Liberia, if elected President.
Liberians across the country are poised to go to the polls on October 10 of this year to elect a new President and Vice President, as well as 15 Senators and 73 Representatives, to steer the affairs of the country for the next six years.
Mr. Brown is expected to battle the incumbent George M. Weah of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and 17 presidential candidates for the country’s Presidency.
Mr. Brown, an experienced statesman and visionary leader, during a major press conference Thursday, August 3, 2023, also outlined a comprehensive strategy to bring about positive change in the country.
Tackling the economic challenges that have plagued Liberia for years, the LRP standard bearer identified key areas that he believes require immediate intervention, which he said would be addressed holistically upon taking office in 2024.
He explained that his plan focuses on promoting entrepreneurship, attracting foreign investment, and reducing unemployment rates, noting that with a focus on job creation, he aims to revitalize existing industries, while also diversifying the economy beyond traditional resource extraction.
By developing sectors such as manufacturing, technology, and tourism, Brown also envisions a more resilient and robust Liberian economy for the future and the country’s unborn generation.
Further recognizing the critical importance of agriculture to Liberia’s socio-economic development, Brown highlighted his intention to prioritize the sector’s transformation through mechanized farming, by adequately empowering local farmers.
Emphasizing food security, he outlined plans to modernize farming practices, increase access to credit for farmers, and enhance agricultural education and training programs, as well as boost productivity, reduce import dependency, and create a vibrant agricultural sector capable of meeting both domestic and international demands.
Furthermore, Brown’s agenda encompasses diverse areas beyond the economy and agriculture, and also spoke passionately about addressing the challenges of education, healthcare, infrastructure, and governance.
Promising to prioritize access to quality education for all Liberians, he stressed the importance of investing in schools, teachers, and educational resources, and at the same time, also pledged to improve the healthcare system, ensuring better access to medical facilities, modern equipment, and qualified healthcare professionals across the country.
Additionally, his agenda includes infrastructural development projects, which also include extensive road connectivity, aimed at improving transportation networks, electricity distribution, and water supply systems to other parts of the country.
Brown, who said his party is a Faith based political movement wanting to restore ‘Liberia to God’, also pledged to ensure the teaching of the doctrine of the gospel of Jesus across the country, in accordance with his platform, which is about God and Liberia.
