Liberia’s 178th Independence Day celebration became a profound tribute to regional solidarity and peacebuilding, as the country honoured the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the ECOWAS Monitoring Group (ECOMOG) for their pivotal roles during Liberia’s civil conflicts and post-war reconciliation.
The historic ceremony, held in Monrovia, brought together several West African leaders, including the Presidents of Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Senegal, and Sierra Leone, alongside top government representatives from Nigeria and Côte d’Ivoire. Their presence underscored Liberia’s enduring diplomatic and security ties within the sub-region.
In commemoration of ECOWAS at 50, President Joseph Nyuma Boakai presented awards to the seven member states that contributed troops to ECOMOG—Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Nigeria, Senegal, and Sierra Leone. The honours recognised their contributions to restoring peace and stability in Liberia.
Former ECOWAS Executive Secretaries, including H.E. Lansana Kouyaté, H.E. Dr. Abass Chernor Bundu, and H.E. Dr. Mohammed Ibn Chambas, were also celebrated for their leadership during critical periods of Liberia’s crisis.
Chairman of the ECOWAS Authority and President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio, led the presentation of awards to ECOWAS leaders, including Dr. Omar Alieu Touray, current President of the ECOWAS Commission, and his predecessor, Jean-Claude Kassi Brou. H.E. Josephine Nkrumah, ECOWAS Resident Representative in Liberia, received the award on behalf of the ECOWAS Commission.
Liberia’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, during the ceremony, paid homage to the sacrifices of ECOMOG peacekeepers whose efforts, he said, laid the groundwork for the eventual deployment of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL).
President Boakai also announced plans to establish a National Memorial in honour of civil war victims and fallen ECOWAS peacekeepers. He described the initiative as a vital step toward national healing, regional solidarity, and historical remembrance.
