Open Letter to President George Weah

C Liberia Clearly CEO calls on George Weah to take Arts and Culture seriously.

The Honorable George M. Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, I write to endorse your "Pro Poor" agenda. I fully

support your call "to ensured Liberians are not spectators in the

Liberian Economy."  

 In

order to carry out this "Pro Poor" agenda successfully,

and in order to fully empower the young generation, the Liberian Entertainment Industry must be included. 

Arts and Culture has played a critical role in keeping our young citizens gainfully employed.  From the music industry to film industry to the fashion industry, this generation has benefitted from the employment opportunities arts and culture provides. 

To extend the benefits of arts, culture and tourism, the Liberian government must support and rely on arts and culture as a key input for rebuilding our nation. There are several actions this administration should take to strengthen the role that arts and culture plays in nation development. 

First, building a sense of pride and acceptance in the Liberian culture begins at the top. The culture community should be led by leaders with demonstrated track records of having love and passion for our culture, not leaders who are willing to sell Kedenja and refusing to rebuild our culture center.  Further, recognizing that creativity and innovation makes arts stronger, this administration should welcome and encourage young innovative and creative leaders in the arts community. 

Second, this administration should ensure there are laws put in place to protect the entertainment community, and those laws are implemented.  

Third, this administration should provide government grants and loans to help strengthen and rebuild the entertainment community.  Entertainment in history has been used to console the minds, motive and redirect the focus of a struggling nation and its people.  The Harlem renessiance played a vital role in the lives of the Black slaves as they fought to regain a sense of pride and freedom.  Entertainment was also an instrument for the South Africans during their time of struggle. Entertainment was used during our fight against Ebola, and it should not be dismissed or undermine by this administration, like the ones prior.  

Finally, this administration should wholeheartedly include the Entertainment community as a part of the “Pro Poor” agenda. 

These steps are necessary to strengthen our arts and culture community and bring the full fruits of arts to our nation and the world. The arts and culture community is fully prepared to constructively engage with and closely monitor the actions of the this administration.  We will continue to champion efforts that strengthen the role of arts and culture in policy making and stand ready to hold accountable any who might seek to undermine it.