President George Manneh Weah, has by Proclamation declared Tuesday, March 15, 2022, the 213^th memorial birthday of Joseph Jenkins Roberts and is to be observed throughout the Republic as a National Holiday.

According to a Foreign Ministry release, the  Proclamation is in consonance with an Act passed by the forty-second (42^nd) legislature during its third session which declared and proclaimed March 15 of each year as the birth anniversary of the late 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 as well as negotiating and concluding treaties with foreign powers which gave recognition to the founding of the Liberian Nation.

The Proclamation further orders Government offices, public buildings and business houses closed during the observance.

The Liberian leader, in his Proclamation, indicated that it is befitting that such honor accorded the memory of this 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 his works and life as Liberia’s first President.