SANNIQUELLIE, Nimba – As Liberia celebrated its 170th anniversary in Monrovia, Nimba Superintendent David Dorr Cooper said his county administration did not receive any funding from the central government to host local celebrations.
Making the disclosure to The Bush Chicken via mobile phone from his office in Sanniquellie, Cooper said it would have been useful for citizens to observe the national holiday as a matter of pride and dignity.
The national celebration took place in Monrovia this year after rotating in a variety of counties over the course of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s tenure, including in Nimba in 2010.
However, Cooper said while the national celebration was occurring, the 14 other political subdivisions needed to also honor the country’s day of independence locally.
The last time official Independence Day celebrations were held in Sanniquellie was in 2013, when the Ministry of Internal Affairs made available US$500 through former Nimba Superintendent Christina Dagadu to hold a party for children.
Mary Nyan Gonlepa, mayor of Sanniquellie, said that celebration brought together 500 children. This year, she said her office was not financially equipped to conduct a similar program.
Ahead of the holiday, she could only encourage motorists to be safe and watch out for children playing on the streets. She said her office had designed a strategy to deploy police officers to control traffic in Sanniquellie as a means of saving lives and properties.
While the county and city government did not hold any event, the opposition Liberty Party threw a get-together for young children to attend in Sanniquellie. The program was characterized by dance competitions and the distribution of toys.
Marthaline Gono, the co-chair for Liberty Party’s Sanniquellie Mah District women’s group, said contrary to popular belief, the event was not intended for soliciting votes from citizens, but it rather intended to provide a safe space for children to celebrate.
Featured photo by Franklin Neyahlor
