The Chairperson of the National Traditional Chiefs and Elders Council of Liberia, Zanzan Karwor, has been named as National Orator for the 176th Independence Day to be commemorated on Wednesday, July 26, 2023.
According to the Secretary General of the Council, Matthew Smith, this is the first time ever for a traditional ruler to be selected to address the nation on Independence Day since the coming into being of the country some 200 years ago.
He said Karwor’s selection is a clear manifestation by the government of recognizing the important role that traditional leaders and their people are playing in the management of the state.
Smith then expressed thanks and appreciation to the government for the recent 4-day peace conference held in Kakata, Margibi County, which brought together over 600 chiefs and elders from every part of the country.
In April 2010, Karwor criticized the regime of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf over the then conspicuous absence of political party leaders and officials of government from the funeral services of the late Vice Chairman of the National Traditional Council, Chief David Biah, commonly known as Chief Charkla.
He said at the time that apart from the President (Ellen Johnson Sirleaf), whose letter of invitation was carried a day before the event, every minister of government and head of political party was invited, along with officials and members of the House of Representatives and the Senate, but none of them attended.
