Monrovia, Liberia- Liberians are today, Tuesday, March 15, 2022 observing the birth anniversary of their first President, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, which is a national holiday announced by President George Manneh Weah, through a Proclamation.
President Weah said the 213th memorial birthday of Joseph Jenkins Roberts and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.
According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation is in consonance with an Act passed by the forty-second (42nd) National Legislature during its third session which declared and proclaimed March 15 of each year as the birth anniversary of the late Joseph Jenkins Roberts, First President of the Republic of Liberia, to be celebrated as a National Holiday as a mark of respect and reverence to his memory and for his untiring efforts in organizing the first Government of the Republic as well as negotiating and concluding treaties with foreign powers which gave recognition to the founding of the Liberian Nation.
The Proclamation further orders Government offices, public buildings and business houses closed during the observance.
The Liberian leader, in his Proclamation, indicated that it is befitting that such honor accorded the memory of this distinguished Statesman serves as a challenge to all Liberians to aspire to higher and noble endeavors by emulating his courage, endurance, selflessness and commitment to the principles and ideals of democracy as portrayed in his works and life as Liberia’s first President.