Personalities Of The Year, 2022

As part of its tradition each year, The Inquirer Newspaper bestows honor on individuals as well as entities in its year-end edition is simply due to their roles and or services rendered the public or the society for the year under review.

It is in this direction that our editorial team liaises with the public seeking opinions and in our editorial judgments, together we determine who or what should be captured in this special personality year-end edition.

To this end, the paper is without doubts that we have selected the below listed as our achieved personalities of the year 2022 and we look forward to more tangibles in their visible works or operations in the coming years so that in our quest to develop and make Liberia a country where others can see the need to get energized and work so as to get their flowers as public servants or someone serving humanity.

You will notice that some of our honorees have received our prestigious recognitions twice or even more often and it is because this paper deems it expedient to always recognize and motivate those who strive to make gains in their achievements but even so, we will not hesitate to take back our recognition if an honoree performs below our expectations or betrays the public trust.

This year; our institution has placed under the microscope woman of the year thus selecting the new Chief Justice, Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh. This gives us much more confidence that she is being watched and all we can say is that to whom much is given, much is expected!

Other categories are Robust Public Servant of the Year and the name Mary T. Broh came popping getting the highest public acceptance while for Legislator of the Year is Saar Joseph; and our Anti-Corruption Activist of the Year is Cllr. Edwin Kla Martin.

Our Patriot of the Year is Upjit Singh Sachdeva alias ‘Jetty’; Security Agency of the Year is the Presidential Executive Protection Service; Businessman of the Year is Simeon Freeman, Judge of the Year-Roosevelt Z. Willie; Activist of the Year- Martin Kollie;Civil Society Organization of the Year is Naymote; Humanitarian of the Year- Otis Harris: Sports Administrator Of The Year:

Mustapha Raji; Excellence In Education of the Year- Cllr. Phil Tarpeh Dixon and National Team of the Year- Liberia National Quizzing Team.

Minister of the year is Cooper Kruah; Reformist of the year is Estelle Liberty Kemoh and in the year being reviewed our Serviceman of the Year award goes to Major General Prince Charles Johnson, III of the Armed Forces of Liberia; Educator of the year is Bishop Leo Simpson and Entertainer of the Year is the Exodus Entertainment.

Personality of the Year is Chief Justice Sie-A-Nyene Yuoh and we can proudly say being the third female Chief Justice of Liberia, Cllr. Yuoh wasted no time to begin setting in place her agenda at the Temple of Justice, for magistrates and judges in Circuit Courts.

She handles her gavel without fear or favor and in the shortest time has meted out actions that seemed strange in the judicial system leaving legal minds to wonder if she can sustain such speed in a CDC-led government.

With barely three months in office, the Supreme Court under the gavel of Chief Justice Yuoh cited the Minister of Finance and even held him in contempt of court for the government’s inability to pay judicial employees for more than two months; an attitude on the part of government that completely paralyzed the courts for more than two weeks with the police unable to process those accused of committing crimes to court.

Of late, the Yuoh-bench instructed magistrates to release pre-trial detainees with minor offenses, who have served beyond a period of a 30-day jail term amidst reports of a looming health crisis at the South Beach Prison.

Reformist of the Year: Mrs. Estelle Liberty Kemoh’s leadership role exhibited at the state-owned broadcaster is worth emulating. She ensured that during the year under review, 89.9 the original frequency of ELBC which was nonexistent after the war was brought back just for entertainment purpose as a new music radio now named Metro 89.9.

Also it is during her innovative leadership that the LBS management introduced an external satellite and local cable networks coupled with the creation of a state of the arts Television studio and control room.

LBS has also developed partnership with sister broadcast institutions in the sub-region at the same time implementing staff development and capacity building through local and international training programs and has also strengthened partnerships with community radio stations in the counties in addition to the nine existing radio stations operated by LBS to inform its rural audience.

The LBS management now headed by Madam Liberty Kemoh was able to completely do an asphalt pavement of the entire LBS compound; something that was unnoticed in the last 35 years.

This simple-styled Director General has ensured that the 30-year old abandoned live television and recording studios on the basement of LBS compound which cost management a little over US$ 80, 000 was refurbished as part of her legacy plan.

Madam Kemoh’s leadership is optimistic that the first post war presidential debate in 2023 would be held in that theatre if all the equipment are procured.

For the first time; the LBS management introduced what is called a 13-month salary payment scheme where an additional one-month salary is paid in December as a motivation for the over 190 employees strictly from LBS’ coffers.

Also, as part of its partnership with the Chinese government, the LBS management will commence the construction of a new multipurpose central facility under the Government of Liberia and the People’s Republic of China’s bilateral partnership; we salute you, Estelle and team!

Our Minister of the Year: is the Posts & Telecommunications boss, Cllr. Cooper W. Kruah Sr. who continues to build a strong case for a possible ICT expansion in Liberia from its archaic  manual system and one of his advocacies was at the International Telecommunications Union (ITU’s) Plenipotentiary Conference which is the highest policy-making body of the ITU held in Bucharest Romania but it is held every four-year as a key event at which ITU Member States decide on the future role of the organization, thereby determining the organization’s ability to influence and affect the development of Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) worldwide.

Under Cllr. Kruah’s watch, the Ministry is currently opening windows to implement the Financial Postal Services to help Liberians transfer money through a more long services than other e-transfer in Liberia and has signed the Private Public Partnership agreement with a new company through the PPCC to implement the project.

Minister Kruah has ensured that the draft Cyber Security Act is finalized and said Act will guide ICT stakeholders to ensure the law is implemented to the fullest as another achievement made possible through a partnership with the Ministry and other ICT organizations including the ECOWAS ICT Committee.

The Ministry has also worked to ensure that the ICT Policy which outlines Liberia’s vision to utilize Information and Communications Technology for all institutional economic growth and development is induced by the cabinet with a Presidential approval.

Our Patriotic Personality Of The Year: Upjit Singh Sachdeva is one of the personalities who continues to receive our award and this award seems more deserving because even as a former Indian Honorary Consul General to Liberia, Jeety continues to prove to be a Liberian by heart by his humanitarian gestures without any intentions attached.

His Hot Meals Initiative has gravitated him deeper into the Liberian society and he stands out to be the only diplomat whose heart is with the civilian population next to government who has been engaged in caring for disadvantaged youths, children and the elderly as his initiative could amount to have reached almost half of Liberia’s population.

Jeety, the Chief Executive Officer of the premier Jeety Trading Corporation and Jeety Rubber Liberia Limited which is under construction in Weala, Margibi County where he has challenged at-risk youths that upon their rehabilitation, they will have an employment there, this foreign national has not only fed Liberians; he is also embarked on the construction of a modern clinic to provide adequate health care delivery to thousands of residents in Weala, Cinta Township, Margibi County as part of his company’s corporate social responsibility to the district.

The 25-bedroom health facility nearly 90% completed is expected to commence full operations in the coming days and will accommodate more than 55 in-take patients as well as host an operation theatre, a modernized laboratory, x-ray room, ultra sound, eye treatment room, store room, pharmacy, emergency room, and three offices for doctors, among others.

Indeed, Jeety’s demonstration of patriotism to Liberia seems suspicious and is considered as one of an intent but the Indian national’s love for Liberia is rare.

Businessman of the Year: Simeon Freeman has emerged as best pick for this personality award because as an economist by profession, his economic policy suggestions have always been targeted at resurrection the country’s failing economy by advancing new and workable alternatives grounded in standard economic procedures.

Simeon Freeman who runs the Consolidated Group Incorporated (CGI), service provider of DSTV in Liberia started his business venture in 1990 from scratch.

Freeman with all of the challenges has managed through the business community to be a successful businessman by firstly moving the DSTV Liberia office from Benson Street in a rented building to its own five-storey building in Fiamah worth about US$5 million.

Freeman in 2020 has revamped his Vist Water Company from 5,000 bottles to 30,000 bottles. The water factory is located in Stephen Tolbert Estate with more than 200 Liberians in the employ.

Mr. Freeman is also in the business of rock quarry (rock crusher) and reduced the hardware price of DSTV for its customers from US$65 to 25, which enabled a lot of Liberians to afford and install DSTV at their various homes.

From the onset of his business, Mr. Freeman was involved into live cow business where he used to go to import cows from Guinea to Liberia. After several years of involvement into local businesses, Freeman then transitioned from the sale of live cows to the sale of computers and office materials.

Freeman being eager to excel in life and to improve his businesses, he also got involved in the sale of frozen food items where he later transitioned to the sale of used cars and used clothes in other to improve his business.

To date, he has employed more than 500 direct employees at his DSTV and rock quarry company including the water producing factory and his investments in Liberia is targeting about a thousand persons to be directly employed while hundred are indirect employees.

Judge Of The Year-Judge Roosevelt Willie of the Criminal Court ‘A’ has spent eight years at the Criminal Court and his responsibilities include hearing and disposing of cases based on the facts and laws controlling.

Judge Willie has worked extremely hard to achieve opportunities that led him to where he is now with a passion for helping other people, rebuilding the justice system and fighting corruption. Judge Willie referred to a ‘no nonsense’ judge remains committed to rebuilding the judicial system in Liberia.

Roosevelt Willie is one of the best judges at the Temple of Justice who has placed his court in order, hearing cases on time and he is one of the longest serving judge in the circuit court in Liberia.

Among his many judgments rendered, on Tuesday, 5 July 2022, the Criminal Court “A” Judge sentenced to life imprisonment defendant Christian Barron Anderson who was tried for the murder of John Tubman, son the late former Liberian President William V.S. Tubman.

The defendant has been imprisoned at the Monrovia Central Prison; a maximum facility also known as South Beach. Anderson informed the court that he killed John Tubman because the deceased had constant sexual intercourse with him (Anderson). Anderson accused the deceased of allegedly drugging him and having sex with him as a gay; a decision which give those who believe in different sexuality hope of having justice from within the courts.

Our Security Personnel Of The Year- Trokon Roberts who controls an EPS where nowadays where agents or officers of that elite security service are not shielded when they go against their scope of duty is being recognized in this category for upholding its ethics.

The EPS is established to protect the Presidency, his/her immediate families and all other VIPs instructed by the President and therefore Mr. Roberts in his quest to uphold the ethical values of that elite service has shielded none of its members who are found outside their scope of duty unlike in the past instead, violators are disbanded and made to face justice while at the same time, he takes keen the protection of all agents/officers under his watch who are in the line of duty.

Mr. Roberts coded U-50 who is a quiet but trained agent of the obsolete SSS and has qualified himself through the United Nations system, returned to serve his country showcasing that he is a respecter of the rule of law; one who upholds officer-family value and ensures that officers as well as agents are uniquely neat and well behaved at all times especially during public functions.

Sports Administrator Of The Year: Coach Asaab Fadel

Asaab Fadel is one of the Vice presidents at the Mighty Barrolle Sports Association who also serves as head coach of the club’s basketball team.

He has been a lone sponsor of Barrolle’s basketball team who has also demonstrated unbelievable passion for the club by taking to the lines making that Barrolle gets every win that takes them to another championship.

Fadel, a Lebanese businessman in Liberia has spearheaded, supervised and promoted Mighty Barrolle basketball team ensuring that they reclaim the National Basketball Championship.

His regular displays and consistent moral and finance support had helped immensely to place Barrolle Basketball Team amongst the elite clubs currently in the country.

In 2022, ‘Mourinho’ as he is locally referred to signed several foreign players who were very instrumental in giving Mighty Barrolle the LBA’s National Champion for the second in succession.

Serviceman Of The Year: Major General Prince Charles Johnson, III, unlike other military leaders has proven to be a nationalistic serviceman by his comportment. He speaks out when necessary and clearly on issues within his scope and significantly is his utterances in assuring to the public of the army’s preparedness to defend Liberia and its territorial borders against threats and anyone found attempting to the derail the nation’s peace without fear or favor.

General Johnson who avails himself to the public through the media demonstrates his company’s accessibility as a civilian-military and a force for good, thereby breaking the clichés and bureaucracies that the military does not speak to national issues.

On several occasions as the 2023 politics sets in, Gen Johnson has been in the media warning his troops as well as public officials and politicians not to use any of the army’s premises as political theatres.

He has been very loud as Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia that the army will not prevent violence by going ahead of the police rather, when the situation escalates and the police can no longer handle it, the army will step in to restore law and order.

The 2008 New Defense Act gives the military the right to support joint security efforts aimed at ensuring that there is peace and that the rule of law is respected, followed and obeyed and our personality of the year had not gone outside his mandate as he has been bent on motivating citizens to use the rule of law but with a caveat that the army is not for a specific group but for all citizens and residents and that the army is on the standby to ensure stability and protection when necessary.

Major Johnson’s statement though taken out of context, its judgment was in clear language that the army does support peaceful assemblies or rallies; provided it is held under the Constitution because people should be allowed to assemble peacefully to voice what they have to say but when said rally turns violent and the Police cannot handle the situation, the Armed Forces of Liberia is prepared to support and restore law and order.

For us, we think as we approach the 2023 crucial election, this is a devoted message that should be embraced by all citizens who are looking out for security to restore public trust that nobody will get hurt even while the police watch the scene like in the case of the SUP and the CDC-COP.

Robust Public Servant of the Year 2022: Mary T. Broh has been selected by the Inquirer Newspaper as ‘Public Servant of the year 2022.’

Madam Broh is a well-known public servant who has left indelible marks at any public entity she was given a task to undertake.

Her records date back from the Monrovia City Mayor, National Port Authority, the Bureau of Vital Statistics, the Passport Division at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, General Services Agency, and Special Presidential Taskforces.

In 2022, she was given the task to lend support to the Monrovia City Corporation (MCC) under the watchful eyes of its Mayor, Jefferson Koijee by being named on a Special Presidential Taskforce to clean the City of Monrovia and its environs.

True to her dedicatory spirit, she performed the task with distinction through the seizure of several contaminated goods being sold on the Liberian market; her undiluted quest to see things done properly most times prompted lawmakers to summon her for questioning.

Currently, she heads the Special Taskforce on illegal electricity connection and has robustly disconnected several homes visited with illegal connections.

Her actions have also raised millions of dollars in government’s revenue by ensuring that Liberians purchase and register for new meters after being caught in power theft.

Madam Broh’s immense public contribution is remarkable which has become a trademark for any future public servant and her consistency to making-things-happen has earned her the confidence to enjoy serving this government despite having served in the previous administration.

As Director General of the General Service Agency, Madam Broh has a catch on every activity in the compound as she takes her office to the people and ensures that everything is done as per her instructions; leaving nothing to her deputies or assistants; she is a leader by example and her kind is what the CDC-led government needs if it must leave a legacy.

Anti-corruption activist; Edwin Kla Martin is the Executive Chairperson of the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) who has spared bringing to the limelight neither a private citizen or a government official caught in corruption web.

This recognition is symptomatic of his many engagements to ensure adherence to the rule of law, especially his relentless fight against corruption in post-war Liberia for which he stands embattled as the Chief Executive Chairperson of that integrity institution.

Cllr. Martin’s stance against the menace led to other decisions including attempts to quash the LACC due to his tough stance in pursuing corrupt government officials as well as intimidating him before government officials for over four hours, but his resistance and continuous stance legally became evident by the recent Supreme Court’s ruling to uphold his petition.

Cllr. Martin and the LACC in 2022 have been very robust in the fight against corruption as it indicted several government ministries and agencies’ officials for corrupt practices and forwarded their files to the Ministry of Justice for prosecution.

Under the leadership of Cllr. Martins at the helm of the LACC and in collaboration with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission of Nigeria (EFCC) and the Anti-Corruption Commission of Sierra Leone with support from the African Development Bank, it participated in a training in Financial Crimes Investigation and Corruption Risk Assessment for stakeholders in the fight against corruption regionally.

The LACC has collaborated with other international partners to an extent that the LACC was named as Vice president in a regional anti-graft body which encouraged President Weah to submit and pass into law several anti-graph laws to ensure the independence of the Commission.

Diplomat Of The Year 2022; This year, we have as our Diplomat of the Year, Michael A. McCarthy, Ambassador of the United States to Liberia.

Ambassador McCarthy is honored for his continuous strong voice in the sustenance of democracy in Liberia, especially with some decisions taken in the interest of Liberia and his stance against corruption in the government.

Additionally, this paper also recognizes his stance in helping to fight and stamp out rampant corruption in Liberia, which has led some individuals believed to be supporters of the government to attack his personality.

The continuous support of the American government to the people of Liberia, include its tremendous support of the revitalization of electricity supply; support to the maintenance of rule of law, elections, among many others did not go unnoticed.

Civil Society Organization of the Year:

The National Youth Movement for Transparent Elections (NAYMOTE) has been followed during the year in review.

Naymote has been a CSO that is far sighted and has begun preparations ahead of the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections by embarking on supporting key thematic programs, mainly those run by young people across the country so as to ensure genuine transformation of the population that is mostly used, abused and abandoned by politicians.

Naymote is on record for accommodating representatives of youth organizations, including political and civil society to share with them concerns itemized into a manifesto containing 15 counts, specifically calling on political leaders to allow them to have a stake in the development agenda of Liberia.

This Manifesto represents the true aspirations of all young people across the country and NAYMOTE engaged all of the young people gathered from across the fifteen subdivisions allowing each young person to speak in the direction as contained in their manifesto.

Also with support from the Swedish Embassy near Monrovia, Naymote launched an over US$1M Democracy Advancement Program (DAP) in Liberia and the program focused on youth advancement, accountability, and good governance in the most populated counties including Montserrado, Nimba, Lofa, Bong, and Grand Bassa.

Naymote also hosted a three-community-level dialogue focusing on women’s political participation and preventing violence against women in electoral processes and the dialogues were held under the Liberia Electoral Support Project (LESP) in partnership with the Embassy of Sweden in Monrovia (SIDA), Irish Aid, the National Elections Commission of Liberia (NEC), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and UN Women Liberia.

The dialogues were part of the institution’s efforts to promote women’s political participation and inclusion and support a safe space for women across the country.

Naymote again rallied hundreds of Liberian youths from across the country to promote issues-based elections and encourage political leaders to implement the youth agenda for the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections.

Our personality CSO, Naymote, in its first edition of “Legislative Digest”, a quarterly publication that assesses the Liberian Legislators’ performances of their three core functions of representation, lawmaking and oversight, as well as accountability and transparency, advised that the 54th Legislature needed crucial important reforms to effectively perform their constitutional mandates.

In its maiden report covering January 2018 to May 2022, Naymote Partners for Democratic Development released its four-year performance report of President George M. Weah in office which was based on available data and records.

In that report, only 11 of the 169 promises were completed, constituting (7%) of all promises during the reporting period.  Additional 65 promises (38%) were ongoing; and 93 promises (55%) had not started or not rated due to limited or lack of available data to access progress made towards implementation.

Outstanding Liberian-Owned Business Of The Year-

The Exodus Entertainment and wholesale business is a proudly 100 percent Liberian-owned entity that has risen from a small mini mart to a retail and whole sale business with his entertainment place transforming from sitting on the sidewalks of Gurley Street to a more comfortable space.

Henry Jackson is the owner of the business and has also established several other branches around Montserrado County and in nearby counties.  Congratulations! Keep making Liberian-owned businesses a reality.

Educator Of The Year:

Dr. Leo Simpson was a child born and bred in the sea of punishing poverty, ignorance and disease, in 1949, in the obscured town of Borkazi, Lofa County, Liberia West Africa, knowing nothing but abject and unthinkable poverty, with the possibility of never succeeding in life.

But by the grace of God, now Dr., lad Simpson enrolled by the force by the Liberian government in 1959, at a very advanced age for any school, in a school in the search of an education; sternly convinced that education was his earthly redemption from the perennial shackles of poverty, disease and ignorance.

He then persevered against all of the impending odds, down through the difficult years of his determined academic journey to a resounding success, by the help of God Almighty and earned for himself two degrees BC. ED, MAC. ED and an honorary doctorate degree, DDIV.

As the direct consequence of his education, God has used him in an incredible way to impact the lives of many, many Liberians and foreigners alike in the arena of education.

Just recently, at the direction of Jesus Christ, he established the ‘Samuel Grimes Initiative for At-Risk Youth’ on the 10-acre of land at Samuel Grimes Memorial Institute, Pentecostal Assemblies of the World Inc. on Bong Mines Road, Kakata Margibi County.

This imperative program is tailored to help some young men and women who are ‘differently challenged’ or drug addicted, disenfranchised and thrown under the nation’s ‘BUS.’

In his quest to see a literate society, his mission is also to combat this national shame and disgrace called drug addiction which is a cardinal problem of epic proposition that if the government of the day does not with immediacy address this problem, Liberians will all one way or the other pay a heavy price for this nation.

Activist Of The Year :

Martin K. N. Kollie has been our longest awarded activist of the year. His wave of exposure of persons found to be faking their academic qualifications and curriculum vitae might have caught the recently appointed President of the Liberia Bank for Development and Investment, Deo Delaney in the web of such situation.

Martin’s advocacy has brought many public officials to questioning including Darlington Karnley, who was once nominated for the Roberts International Airport (RIA’s) Managing Director post; Grand Gedeh County’s Representative Alexander Grant; Josephus Moses Gray and James McClain both Deans of the Amos Claudius Sawyer College of Social Sciences and Humanities, and Science College, University of Liberia.

The former student activist who now runs an academic advocacy group called the Campaign for the Academic and Corruption Court (CACC), said Delaney besides alleging falsifying his academic credentials also failed the aptitude test and interview from the list of shortlisted candidates with 55.25 percent score, being the least of all the applicants.

Martin asserted that there were requirements for the job when it was advertised, among which is that the candidate should possess Master’s degree in Banking, Finance and Management, Economics or any Business Management field minimum and a minimum of 15 years of work experience in the Banking industry; at least 10 of those years must be in the Liberian Banking industry.

Sports Administrator Of The Year:

Mustapha Raji, President of the Liberia Football Association has been selected by the Inquirer Newspaper as “Sports Personality of the Year.”

This honor is in acknowledgement of his leadership ability exhibited at the Liberia Football Association (LFA) through his continuous reforms within the LFA, especially the development of youth football across the country without political alignment.

Additionally, this paper also acknowledges president Raji’s LFA developmental style of leadership, especially the completion of the headquarters of the LFA in Oldest Congo Town, the renovation of the SKD sports complex as well as construction of mini stadiums across the country among others.

Others initiatives undertaken by Mr. Raji and the LFA which triggered this honor are as follow:Youth Development – establishment (U15, U17, U20 teams) all have participated in: Youth 15 League for boys and girl; High school Tournament for primary schools; d decentralization of football–active Sub associations and 3rd division Leagues in the entire 15 counties.; sponsorship subvention to participating – Cubs – First Division clubs, Second Division clubs and Woman football clubs

Other achievements during his tenue are six infrastructure development: ongoing 85%.; Mini Stadium SKD practice pitch; Mini Stadium Tusa sports pitch; Mini Stadium Doris Williams Stadium; ongoing construction of the LFA Headquarters; football in Schools: Primary League, University Tournament; 10 Referee Development; Increment of match officials game indemnities, among others.

National Team of the Year- Liberia National Quizzing Team

On October 22nd, six Liberians departed the country to obtain visas in Ghana and then proceed to contest for the Ultimate Quizzing Championship scheduled for Berlin, Germany from November 4th to 6th this year. Their early departure was vindicated when the team not just had to go through the visa application process while out of the country, but had to go through the appeal process to overturn an initial visa denial by the Germans.

The team arrived at the competition to much acclaim and immediately proceeded to compete in the Regular and U-30 competitions. The team obtained its first medals on the initial day of competition, earning third-place in Under-30 National Teams category, after Belgium and host, Germany. By the end of the program, Liberia scored two more medals, to leave the competition with three medals in total.

The Ultimate Quizzing Championship brought together close to two hundred quizzing luminaries from from twenty-five countries in Europe, North America, Oceania and Asia, with Liberia the only African nation to be involved. The most successful country this year was Belgium, with Estonia, England, Liberia and the United States being among the countries to win more than one medal. Liberia’s registration fee, accommodation in and travel to Berlin were covered by the Toutant Intellectual Competition Fund based in the US, while costs in Liberia and Ghana were covered by the team. The Liberian Team consisted of Cllr. Phil Tarpeh Dixon (Captain), Jonathan Z. Saye (also U-30), Philip H. Roberts (also U-30), Grace N. Cole (also U-30), Otis B. Kruah (also U-30) and Smaila B. Kiazolu (also U-30).

Excellence In Education of the   Year- Cllr. Phil Tarpeh Dixon

During the course of 2022, no person was involved in motivating Liberians to value and pursue education more than Cllr. Phil Tarpeh Dixon.

Cllr. Dixon was involved in the full measure of education promotion activities: book launch, quizzing, debate and motivational speeches.  He began by launching his book “Eusebia Bea and the Oga’s Son” which rose as high as #10 on Amazon Bestsellers List for African Poetry in February. He also played a key role in the editing, production and launch of the book “Tears of Saybah and Other Stories” by young Liberian Otis B. Kruah.

His institution, the Liberia Institute for Knowledge and Excellence which represents the International Quizzing Association in Liberia concluded the delayed National Super Cup for High Schools with  Joseph Jenkins Roberts United Methodist School defeating Jimmy Jolocon to become champion. Jimmy Jolocon was subsequently nominated and won as World Quizzing Team of that Week. He then got Liberia to be one of just three teams from outside the United States invited to partake in US National All-Star Academic Tournament.

 The Liberian high school team partook online as the tournament was conducted on Zoom due to Covid restrictions. Towards the end of the year, he took a team of six Liberians out of the country for three weeks where the National Quizzing Team competed in and emerged with three medals from the Ultimate Quizzing Championship held in Berlin, Germany where Liberia was the only country representing Africa. Of note was the fact that he applied his legal training to appeal and get overturned, the initial decision of the Germans to deny the Liberian team visa. He was nominated for the world Trivia Hall of Fame and has been confirmed that he would be inducted into the Hall of Fame when it reconvenes next year in Las Vegas, the United States.

In December this year, he served as Chief Judge for the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission Inter-College Debate held on the campus of the University of Liberia.

Humanitarian of the Year- Otis Harris

Ambassador Otis Harris the Chief Executive Officer of the Nongovernmental Organization, GIVE LIFE Foundation Resource Development and Empowerment is our humanitarian of the year.

His organization adds joy in the lives of the needy. Recently the organization provided a little over 1, 500 bags of 25kg rice and food assorted items along with gifts for Orphanage homes, less privilege and Old Folks in Montserrado County.

The organization has also been established in Moscow and Russia to create the opportunity and help less privileged, old folks and orphans to better their lives to be people who the nation will count on tomorrow.

Besides the recent donation, the foundation has provided over 150 local and international scholarships for Liberians and created over 500 jobs opportunities for lot of young people.

CEO Harris has funded many Rehab centers to rehabilitate hundreds of disadvantaged youth whom most of them are gainfully employed today. According to him, when the government of Liberia provides him the opportunity, he will create lot of opportunities for the less fortunate people as well.