MONROVIA – On Tuesday, September 17, 2024, at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism (MICAT) regular press briefing Deputy Information Minister Daniel O. Sando addressed reports circulating in the media regarding former President George Weah’s involvement in Liberia’s bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council. Sando firmly stated that the Government of Liberia does not hold any special interest in former President Weah’s participation and emphasized that his opinion carries no extra weight compared to other prominent Liberians.
“There is a misconception being promoted by some media outlets that the Government of Liberia has specifically solicited former President Weah’s assistance for our campaign for the UN Security Council seat,” Sando said. “Publications like FrontPage Africa have run headlines suggesting we are ‘Seeking Weah’s help’ while The Liberian Investigator claims the ‘Foreign Minister Requests Ex-President Weah’s Help for UN Seat.’ These headlines distort the reality of the situation.”
Minister Sando explained that the Government, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has reached out to a broad spectrum of distinguished Liberians, including former President Weah, to show support for the nation’s candidacy. He underscored that former President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, Nobel Laureate and two-term head of state, has also been invited to join the effort, alongside many other leaders.
“We’ve asked former President Sirleaf, like former President Weah, to create a one-minute video message in support of Liberia’s bid. It’s curious that media outlets are focusing exclusively on Weah, while neglecting to report that President Sirleaf, a Nobel Peace Prize and Mo Ibrahim Award recipient, was approached in the same manner,” Sando questioned. “Why this bias? Does the media find it more newsworthy to single out former President Weah and not mention our outreach to other influential figures?”
Sando further noted that beyond the two former presidents, Liberia’s bid is supported by Nobel Laureate Leymah Gbowee, Speaker of the House J. Fonati Koffa, Senate Pro Temp Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, former Foreign Minister Olubanke King-Akerele, and Ambassador George Wallace, among others.
“The Government believes that every voice matters equally in this context. It is misleading to suggest that any one individual, including former President Weah, carries more influence than others,” Sando stressed. He highlighted that Liberia’s last seat on the UN Security Council was over 60 years ago, and the current government views this bid as critical to enhancing the nation’s international standing.
Leymah Gbowee, the acclaimed peace activist, expressed her full support for the government’s efforts. “I am honored to support Liberia in its bid for a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council,” she stated. “The UN played a pivotal role in helping to end Liberia’s conflict in 2003. A seat on the Security Council would allow Liberia to contribute to the legacy of peace and conflict resolution that our nation and its citizens have worked tirelessly to cultivate.”
As Liberia continues its campaign for this prestigious international position, the Government is urging all sectors of society to unite behind this effort, seeing it as a crucial step in solidifying Liberia’s role on the global stage.
