The President of the Republic of Liberia, H. E. George Manneh Weah, has declared Thursday, March 15th, 2018 as the 209th Birth Anniversary of Liberia’s first President, Mr. Joseph Jenkins Roberts. The day is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the observance is in recognition of the invaluable sacrifices rendered by President Roberts as the Founding Father of Liberia.

The Proclamation recalled that the Forty-Second Legislature enacted an Act declaring the 15^th March of each year as the Birth Anniversary of Joseph Jenkins Roberts, First President of the Republic of Liberia, to be celebrated as a National Holiday as a mark of respect and reverence to his memory and for his untiring efforts in organizing the first Government of the Republic.

The proclamation also recognizes the important role played by President Roberts in negotiating and concluding treaties with Foreign Powers, thus laying the foundation of the Liberian Nation.

A Foreign Ministry release says the Proclamation notes that it is befitting for such honor to continue to be accorded the memory of this distinguished Statesman as a challenge to all Liberians to aspire to higher and nobler endeavors by emulating his courage, endurance, selflessness and commitments to the principles and ideals of democracy as portrayed in his works and life as our First President.