President George Manneh Weah has by proclamation declared Monday, March 15, 2021 as the 212th memorial birthday of Joseph Jenkins Roberts and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.  

The Proclamation further orders all government offices, public buildings and business houses closed on the day.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the Proclamation is in consonance with the Patriotic and Cultural Observances Law, Chapter I Section 1 of the Liberian Code of Laws Revised, Volume IV, declaring the fifteenth day of March each year as the birth anniversary of the first President of the Republic of Liberia, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, to be commemorated as J. J. Roberts Memorial Birthday.

The release states that the enactment is also in appreciation of his untiring efforts in organizing the first Government of the Republic as well as negotiating and concluding treaties with foreign powers which gave recognition to the founding of the Liberian nation.

The Proclamation further stresses that it is befitting that such honor accorded the memory of the distinguished Statesman serves as a challenge to all Liberians to aspire to higher and noble endeavors by emulating his courage, endurance, selflessness and commitment to the principles and ideals of democracy as portrayed in the works and life of Liberia’s first President.