President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was on Tuesday, September 19, honored as a 'Global Goalkeeper' at an award ceremony hosted by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in New York.
The Global Goalkeepers' award is awarded to individuals dedicated to accelerating progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals.
Recipients of the award are expected to raise awareness of the stories and the data behind the SDGs, hold their leaders accountable and drive investment and actions towards achieving the goals.
Receiving the award, President Sirleaf described the initiative as awesome and reflected on the long journey and efforts that led to the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals. “I acknowledge that Liberia in particular and the African continent in general were involved with the formulation of the Sustainable Development Goals. I recalled that I was one of three Co-Chairpersons who led the efforts aimed at addressing poverty, inequality, hunger, insecurity, among others and will remain committed to the full implementation of the 17 goals of the SDGs”, the Liberian leader pointed.
President Sirleaf also recounted Liberia’s personal sojourn ranging from the civil war to the Ebola crisis which led to the complete devastation and destruction of the nationhood of the Liberian State.
She recalled the suffering endued mainly by the women and children of Liberia and efforts made thus far by her government to address the shortcomings of Liberia and improve the living standards of the Liberian people.
President Sirleaf pointed out that Liberia has come a long way, recognizing that the resilience of the Liberian people remains key to reviving the country from the ashes of war to a new era of peace, security, development and progress.
She also told the gathering that the women of Liberia have made great strides in social, economic and political advancement, noting that over one hundred and sixty-four (164) women are contesting for legislative seats in the 2017 Representatives and Presidential Elections.
