The President of the Republic of Liberia, Her Excellency, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, has by Proclamation declared Friday, April 10, 2015 as Fast and Prayer Day to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.

The Proclamation is in consonance with an Act of the National Legislature passed in 1883, which declared the Second Friday in April each year as a National Holiday for supplication, fasting and meditation to the Almighty God so that our efforts as a people, may be crowned with great achievements to the common cause of the nation, the state and our common humanity.

Accordingly, President Sirleaf has further directed that all public offices, business houses and market places remain closed during the observance while the citizens and foreign residents will cease their usual daily occupations in recognition of God’s love and guidance.

The Proclamation further call on all residents of Liberia including Prelates, Priests, Elders, Deacons, Evangelists, Imams regardless of religious creed to gather together in one accord in their respective places of worship, wearing simple and non-costly apparel to fast and pray from 8 O’clock in the morning.

The Proclamation further stated that at this time in the affairs of the nation, when there have been unusual and extraordinary outbreaks and man-provoked national crises that have caused much harm, devastation, destruction, particularly the deadly Ebola Virus Disease (EVD), from which the Country is gradually recovering it is proper to give due recognition to God by whose grace the nation has been spared.