AMOH BEDO PRESIDENT's INAUGURAL ADDRESS
Delivered at the Chapter's Inuagural Ball on April 18, 2009
“I lift my eyes onto the hills from whence cometh my help my help cometh from the Lord who created the Heaven and the Earth”.
Madame Chairlady and officers of the National Board of UNIBOA
Mr. National President and Officers of UNIBOA
Mr. Keynote Speaker and honored guests
Mr. Chairman and Members of the Council of Elders of A MOH BEDO
Fellow Officers and Members of A Moh Bedo
Visiting Brethren, Fellow Compatriots
Ladies and Gentlemen one and all
First of all, I thank the Almighty God for bringing us thus far by faith and commitment, leaning on His Everlasting Arm. I would like to express my thanks and appreciation to my beautiful wife Versia and my daughter Emily for their continual support and understanding as we take this journey together. Leadership involves sacrifices and when one has a supportive family as I do we will truly be drivers of change for the new Liberia.
On July 13, 2008, a group of civic minded citizens from the Bassa Region of Liberia answered the call and took up the challenge to help establish a Maryland Chapter under the umbrella of UNIBOA. This experiment has been fascinating and it the transformation from 6 founding members to 45 members has been overwhelming. “When spider webs unite they can tie up a lion “is a true Ethiopian proverb that can equally apply to our situation. Therefore, I must commend the members of A Moh Bedo for your vision and commitment. The foundation we set was achievable only through your hard work. We have a Constitution and By Laws in place, instituted a sound financial system with a bank account and voucher system, started an ID card system, celebrate birthdays of our members and identified with bereaved members through visitation and a purse. We also had two very successful events at the homes of two of our prominent members aimed at harnessing resources to meet the needs of our organization. At all of these programs we tried to transmit and preserve our cultural heritage. Our emphasis was on ensuring that we provided some benefits to our members and people during the good and bad times. I am proud to be your leader and you make me so proud to know that tonight we can celebrate the achievements of this association and share our aspirations. With a deep awareness of the responsibility conferred by your trust, I accept this mantle of leadership with humility and an inherent desire of service to my fellow man.
We shall never forget our hardworking members. The concern for one another shall be the fulcrum upon which this organization rest. This is the time and this is the place where it must begin and let the word go forth that when it comes to the needs of our members and the needy children of Liberia, this organization, with your help, shall never be like the Pharisee or High Priest who passed by the wounded traveler on their way to Damascus, but rather, we must and shall be the Good Samaritan who stopped by to attend to the wounded man. We will also reach out to newcomers and help them resettle when they come into our community. Services such as job counseling, pre-employment orientation, and resume preparation will be offered to our members. Of critical importance is working on a grant to promote economic self-sufficiency by providing loans, technical assistance and business counseling to our members who want to start small businesses. We will also explore the possibility of helping our members to develop loan portfolio and help micro business entrepreneurs.
Tonight, however, we want to begin to reach out and indeed meet the challenges that all Liberians face. It is not so much as continuing to enumerate the problems we encountered over the years but identifying our commonalities, implementing appropriate solutions that will solidify the things we share, determining what additional critical tasks are outstanding, and going about the people’s business which is to rebuild and reframe our country. It is in this vein, that we want to partner with our national umbrella organization UNIBOA (United Bassa Organization in the Americas) to further our national unification and development objectives. The United Bassa Organizations in the Americas (UNIBOA) is a non-profit, non-political and non-sectarian organization of Liberians from the Bassa counties comprising the political sub-divisions of Grand Bassa, Margibi, Rivercess and Montserrado counties, engaged in social, humanitarian and community development programs. As a free association of Liberian citizens, we recognize the need to be active participants in the development of our homeland and maintain our cultural ties with our people. We are honored to have our National President and representatives from other member organizations with us this evening.
Our theme for this program “Drivers of Change Exploring New Beginnings” represents a clarion call by Members of A Moh Bedo and our mother organization UNIBOA to identify remarkable examples of fresh approaches to development in the Bassa Counties of Liberia to work, promote change in attitudes, policies, and practices so that efforts to overcome poverty are more effective. The visionary people of A MOH BEDO have demonstrated outstanding leadership in convincing us that we need and can muster the ability and intestinal fortitude to overcome poverty throughout the Bassa region. Our efforts are already producing good results by the innovative community partnership exemplified here tonight by your presence. The opportunity and timing could never be better for profound change by our members, all Liberians and well wishers. The fight against poverty should not be treated as a partisan issue or a regional issue. I would therefore renew my plea here that we all join hands to rebuild our great Liberian nation. This is the time and this is the place where it begins.
The ultimate and overwhelming responsibility for building Liberia lies in the hands of Liberians. We must find common ground to hasten the development and implementation of a credible reformist alternative to development so that our newfound hopes and fragile confidence will continue to grow. This is a new beginning for all Liberians to come up with appropriate strategies and programs drawing on the contribution of the whole population and involving the poor themselves, united in the war against poverty and its dire consequences. This is how we shall succeed in building sustainable democracies that work. How can we bequeath a better Liberia to our children and generations yet unborn? One way to do that is to usher in a new political, economic and social leadership that is capable of feeding, clothing, educating and protecting Liberians. We need a qualified and incorruptible leadership that will leverage Liberia’s opportunity for unity, democracy and development. The Bassa people have a productive history and this association has that legacy to uphold. So tonight we would like for you to please make a pledge to support the following projects A MOH BEDO would like to embark upon for Liberia over the next two years with the blessing of the National Body in the short, medium and long term:
- School supplies – In the short term, we endeavor to provide school supplies like pencils, pens, chalk, copybooks, and others instructional supplies for schools in the Bassa Counties. Your tax deductible donations are acceptable tonight from individuals and organizations present here. UNIBOA is a 501 © organization.
- Textbooks and reference material for libraries – we would like to provide needed textbooks and references material to 4 needed schools (one in each of the 4 Bassa counties.) If you know of any school district or libraries who would be willing to assist us in getting textbooks, please feel free to let us know tonight and we will be glad to follow through on this.
- Our long term project is a Water Project – we would like to provide Hand Pumps and Wells to provide safe drinking water in eight villages (2 in each) of the four Bassa counties. We would like to promote the health and well being of our people by providing safe drinking water. Again we need your financial help to make this program a reality. Our ultimate mission shall focus on providing the platform by which the disadvantaged Liberian children can pursue happiness by developing their mind, body and spirit. We endeavor to provide the Liberian children a place at the table of hope and opportunity, a place where dreams and aspirations becomes reality
Ladies and Gentlemen, we may not be united by blood or birth or country, but we can be united on this cause - the cause of humanity. The cause to help the Liberian children alleviate ignorance, disease and poverty one child one school at a time is a worthy one. The cause is just and achievable because we are guided by a power larger than ourselves who created us equal in His image. The cause is to help the children of Liberia, achieve what we have achieved. This is the time and this is the place where it must begin.
If we must live in this village where we cherish kinship and brotherly love, it is more of my problem and yours because today’s child that is shackled with the specter of ignorance, disease and poverty will become society’s burden tomorrow regardless of where that child lives. We solicit your financial contribution tonight towards the purchase of school supplies for schools in the Bassa Counties. You will be blessed by your generous contribution to this worthy cause. Please partner with us tonight.
Lastly, Liberians must not take the easy way out…they must not take the easy route. Leadership demands remaining true to convictions; it means going it alone if need be. This association is part of the leadership for Liberia. Let your voices continue to be heard. That is the only way Liberians will see a brighter future; that is the only way this association will accomplish its objectives of rebuilding the Bassa counties and Liberia. Let us collectively be that “Moses” that will lead our people to the Promised Land.
May the almighty God Bless you & prosper the works of our hands. I thank you.
