MONROVIA, LIBERIA-The 13th Edition of the Golden Image Award has bestowed upon Liberia’s Foreign Minister, Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, the Golden Image George Manneh Weah Presidential Leadership Award” in the national category.
The Golden Image Award is an integral part of the official celebration of the Independence Anniversary of the Republic of Liberia.
The award is classified into three categories local, national, and international. Some awardees included the Deputy Speaker of the 54th National Legislature, Cllr. Fonati Kofa and the Chief of Mission and Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy accredited near Monrovia, among others.
In a communication to Minister Kemayah, the Executive Director of Liberia Crusaders for Peace and Event Planner, Juli Endee, extended their warmest compliments and informed him of his selection as the winner and recipient of the 2023 Golden Award in the national level category of Leadership, on behalf of the Secretariat of the Golden Image Awards, the Liberian Crusaders for Peace, and in collaboration with the Government of Liberia
“Your selection comes following a thorough research and vetting of names and profiles of individuals, organizations, and countries that were submitted by the network of national and international committee members to the National Secretariat of the Golden Image Award for scrutiny in September 2022 to February 2023”.
The letter further mentioned that Minister Kemayah’s profile, which was read during the official award ceremony, proved captivating and possessed all the attributes listed in the selection criteria; hence, the committee selected him as the winner of the “H.E. George Manneh Weah Presidential Award”.
Speaking during the award ceremony, Liberia’s Culture Ambassador, Executive Director of Liberia Crusaders for Peace, and Event Organizer, Ambassador Juli Endee, recounted the many achievements of the Minister of Foreign Affairs. Amb. Endee particularly restated what the former US Ambassador, Michael McCarthy, said when he referenced the transformation that is taking place at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Foreign Minister Kemayah, upon taking over the helm of power in 2020, embarked on a reform process. The minister is credited with reducing the passport price by 20% in all categories at no cost to the government’s revenue, improving the ranking of the Liberian passport, and providing more scholarship opportunities to Liberians across the world. Currently, the Ministry is undergoing massive renovations that have not gone on since it was constructed more than fifty years ago.
The Chief Convener, Dr. George Manneh Weah, President of the Republic of Liberia, in whose honor the award is named, presented the award to the Liberian Foreign Minister, an act pundits have described as a significant milestone and the highest level of recognition of Minister Kemayah’s reform initiatives at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
At the recent Independence Celebration Ceremony of the United States, Amb. Michael McCarthy hailed the Foreign Minister for the level of reformation being carried out at the Ministry.
Making remarks, Foreign Minister Kemayah thanked Amb. Juli Endee and the Golden Image Award’s family for their recognition and the value they continue to add to humanity by showcasing the diversity and beauty of Liberian society.
“We also like to thank you and your committee, Amb. Endee, for sending three awards, through merit, of course, to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs: one to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs as an institution for the level of work being done there, to Deputy Minister Dweh Gray for her dedicated services in your own words, and one to me, your humble servant, for the level of reform at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
The Liberian Foreign Minister, dedicating the three awards to His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah, stated that it could be remixed of him if he did not acknowledge the role of President Weah in the reform work at the ministry. Minister Kemayah praised President Weah, saying, “You showed belief in us when detractors doubted us.”
It can be recalled that in late 2020, when he took over the helm of power at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Kemayah embarked on a reform process that, among others, targeted improving policies, strengthening Liberia’s bilateral and multilateral ties, enhancing human resource development, strengthening transparency and accountability and developing infrastructure at the Ministry.
