PHOTO: Former VP Joe Boakai speaking at the Liberian Council of Churches confab
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Former Liberian Vice President ,Joseph Boakai is encouraging the CDC government to do much as possible to alleviate the deteriorating economic, social, political and security challenges in the country, rather than violently breaking up peaceful protests by citizens.
According to him peace and justice are not gained through the barrel of the gun but through dialogue, negotiations and persuasions.
Mr. Boakai observed that the potential for conflict if the virus continues with any future new variant, the government should manage more efficiently and with credibility the stimuli packages than it did the last time and must use more prudently the Covid-19 financial resources, both national and international.
The former Vice President was speaking this week when he delivered the keynote speech at the opening of a two-day conference organized by the Liberia Council of Churches with funding from the All African Council of Churches in Monrovia.
Former VP Boakai pose for picture with clerics
“In this light,” he went on, “the ‘church Leaders action in the COVID-19 response and recovery process’ is not only an appropriate theme but also a strategic approach to peace building.”
“However, if this conference is to build positive peace, its central aim must be to advance meaningful reconciliation through citizen engagement within, between and among Liberia’s diverse populations, especially those citizens who are underrepresented, underserved, and vulnerable, especially those in the rural areas.”
Mr. Boakai, who is leader of the former ruling Unity Party, said church leaders must take both their needs and views in their actions in order to foster constructive community involvement.
In remarks, the President of the All African Council of Churches, Right Reverend C. Arnold Temple, reminded Africans that peace is not the absent of war because it is rooted in justice , fair play and the respect for human rights of all human beings.
Reverend C. Arnold Temple
According to him, the agenda for Africans is the prevalence of peace , and justice to reign in Africa so developments can prevail.
He said military coups should not be solutions on the continent problems and called on the government and leaders to work for peace in order not reverse of the ugly past.
Bishop Temple called on African leaders to give peace to the people by respecting the laws of the land, the maintenance stability and equal rights.
He condemned the wars in Niger, Burkina Faso, Mali, Mozambique and the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The All African Council of Churches President condemned the military coups in Guinea and Mali and called for the restoration of democracy in those countries.
For his part, the President of the Liberia Council of Churches, Bishop Kortu Brown, assured the Liberian people to Christian community will continue to preach for peace and stability in the country.
He promised that some of the recommendations advanced during the opening ceremony will serious considered in order enhance development
The conference, which brought together church leaders centered on practitioners’ roles in deepening the culture of peace and peaceful co-existence .
The conference was held on the theme: “Strengthening Peace Consolidation, Church Leaders in the COVID-19 Response and Recovering Process.”