MONROVIA – This year, The Liberian Post (TLP) has embarked on another journey of giving the flowers to individuals whose work, leadership, and impact stood out in shaping Liberia’s national life and global image in 2025. TLP’s Personalities of the Year honors excellence across journalism, humanitarian service, governance, politics, security, and the diaspora—sectors that collectively influence the country’s democratic health, social cohesion, and development trajectory.
The 2025 honorees reflect experience earned over decades, service rendered under pressure, and commitment demonstrated both at home and abroad. From veteran voices who preserved the nation’s memory, to reform-minded officials strengthening institutions, to diaspora leaders expanding Liberia’s civic space beyond its borders, these awardees embody leadership that resonates beyond titles.
Journalist Emeritus of the Year — Kenneth Yarkpawolo Best
Kenneth Y. Best stands as one of the most enduring pillars of Liberian journalism. With a career spanning more than five decades, Best’s work helped define modern journalism in Liberia, particularly during periods when truth-telling demanded uncommon courage. As a founder and editor of influential publications including the Daily Observer, Liberia’s oldest independent daily, he shaped editorial standards grounded in accuracy, independence, and public accountability.
Best’s reporting and commentary navigated Liberia through military rule, civil conflict, exile, and democratic transition. Even when newspapers were shut down and journalists persecuted, his voice persisted—sometimes from outside the country, but always focused on Liberia. His writings did not merely report events; they preserved historical record and challenged power without fear or favor.
Beyond the newsroom, Best mentored generations of journalists, many of whom today, lead Liberia’s media institutions. His influence is evident in the continued insistence on ethical journalism amid political polarization and economic pressure. He is frequently described as an “institution” in himself—someone whose name evokes credibility, restraint, and institutional memory.
Naming Kenneth Y. Best Journalist Emeritus of the Year is both recognition and affirmation: recognition of a lifetime dedicated to the public right to know, and affirmation that journalism, when practiced with integrity, outlives regimes and remains indispensable to democracy.
Humanitarian of the Year — Upjit Singh Sachdeva (Jeety)
Upjit Singh Sachdeva, widely known in Liberia as Mr. Jeety, has built a reputation that extends far beyond business success. Over the years, he has quietly but consistently invested in people—feeding the hungry, supporting education, strengthening health services, and responding to humanitarian needs without fanfare.
Through Jeety Rubber and Salala Rubber Corporation, he has anchored long-term community engagement in Margibi County and beyond. His annual Christmas initiatives—feeding thousands of children, supporting inmates, and assisting informal workers such as motorcyclists—have become a fixture in Liberia’s humanitarian calendar. Unlike episodic charity, Jeety’s approach emphasizes continuity and dignity.
Jeety’s philanthropy is marked by presence. He personally attends distributions, listens to beneficiaries, and ensures assistance reaches those most in need. His support for schools, clinics, and food programs reflects a belief that private enterprise carries social responsibility—especially in fragile economies.
He is famously known by this saying: “I am Indian by passport but I am Liberian by heart.” He has on many ocassions also said that the day he dies, he wants his remains cremated right in Liberia.
As a former Honorary Consul of India to Liberia for two decades, he also strengthened people-to-people ties while modeling how foreign investors can integrate responsibly into Liberian society. For many ordinary Liberians, Jeety’s name is synonymous with compassion that delivers tangible relief.
TLP recognizes Upjit Singh Sachdeva as Humanitarian of the Year for sustained, hands-on service that restores hope and reminds society that generosity, when practiced consistently, becomes leadership.
Cabinet Minister of the Year — Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan
Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan’s selection as Cabinet Minister of the Year reflects steadiness, competence, and institutional discipline in one of government’s most demanding portfolios. A seasoned technocrat, Ngafuan has served Liberia across multiple administrations, bringing rare continuity and policy depth to public finance management.
In 2025, his leadership stood out amid global economic uncertainty and domestic fiscal pressure. Under his stewardship, Liberia recorded historic domestic revenue performance while maintaining budget credibility. Ngafuan consistently framed fiscal policy as a development tool—linking revenue, security, infrastructure, and social services into a coherent national vision.
Beyond numbers, Ngafuan distinguished himself through communication. Whether addressing lawmakers, international partners, or uniformed officers, he emphasized accountability, realism, and ethical leadership. His insistence that “budget lines must match policy promises” resonated across sectors. He is now being regarded in some sector of the Liberian public as the “Billion Dollar man.” Under the leadership of President Boakai, he has raised the country’s budget to over a billion dollar, the first in Liberia’s 179 years of existence.
Ngafuan also played a central role in restoring confidence with development partners, including progress toward a second Millennium Challenge Compact and deeper cooperation with multilateral institutions. His calm, methodical approach helped stabilize expectations during politically sensitive transitions.
TLP honors Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan as Cabinet Minister of the Year for combining technical rigor with public responsibility—demonstrating that good governance is not loud, but effective.
Lawmaker of the Year — Nya D. Twayen Jr.
Senator Nya D. Twayen Jr. of Nimba County emerged in 2025 as a legislator defined by presence, accessibility, and constituency advocacy. Representing Liberia’s most populous county, Twayen balanced national legislative duties with grassroots engagement, maintaining visibility in communities often distant from Monrovia’s policymaking center.
Throughout the year, Twayen actively engaged debates on concessions, development equity, and legislative oversight. His interventions reflected a sensitivity to how national decisions affect local livelihoods—particularly in mining-affected communities. He consistently emphasized consultation, transparency, and accountability.
Beyond plenary sessions, Twayen invested in constituency relations, reinforcing the principle that representation does not end at election. His approach strengthened trust between lawmakers and citizens, especially youth groups and traditional leaders.
TLP’s recognition of Senator Twayen underscores the value of legislative leadership that listens as much as it speaks, and that measures success by community impact rather than political theatrics.
Politician of the Year — Joseph Nyuma Boakai
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s selection as Politician of the Year reflects leadership defined by restraint, reconciliation, and institutional rebuilding. Taking office after a hard-fought election, Boakai inherited a polarized nation and a fragile economy.
In 2025, his politics emphasized tone as much as policy. He projected calm authority, avoided vindictive rhetoric, and prioritized restoring confidence in state institutions. His emphasis on accountability, education reform, and public service ethics marked a departure from transactional politics.
Internationally, Boakai re-centered Liberia’s diplomacy, strengthening ties with partners while asserting national dignity. Domestically, he used symbolic gestures—visiting neglected institutions, honoring public servants, engaging the diaspora—to rebuild civic trust.
TLP recognizes President Boakai for politics rooted in patience and principle, demonstrating that leadership need not be noisy to be consequential.
Security Personnel of the Year — Gregory O. W. Coleman
Inspector General Gregory O. W. Coleman’s leadership of the Liberia National Police (LNP) stood out in a year marked by heightened civic activity and public scrutiny of security institutions. His emphasis on constitutional policing, restraint, and human rights helped maintain public order without suppressing democratic expression.
Coleman consistently communicated that security and freedom are complementary, not competing values. Under his leadership, the LNP reinforced intelligence-led policing, community engagement, and professionalism—particularly during sensitive national moments.
Beyond operations, Coleman engaged civil society and the media, reinforcing transparency. His public messaging helped de-escalate tensions and reaffirm the police’s role as protectors, not intimidators.
TLP honors Coleman as Security Personnel of the Year for anchoring policing in law, discipline, and public trust.
Diaspora Person of the Year — Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee
Emmanuel S. Wettee’s recognition as Diaspora Person of the Year reflects decades of sustained advocacy for Liberians abroad. As a leading figure in ALCOD and broader diaspora movements, Wettee has been central to advancing dual citizenship and out-of-country voting.
His leadership helped secure passage of the landmark “Once a Liberian, Always a Liberian” law during the Weah administration, redefining citizenship rights for hundreds of thousands of Liberians abroad. In 2025, he intensified efforts toward diaspora enfranchisement, engaging NEC officials, lawmakers, and the Executive.
Wettee’s advocacy is marked by patience and coalition-building. He emphasizes unity across diaspora organizations, understanding that collective voice delivers reform. TLP honors Eminent Emmanuel S. Wettee for proving that distance does not diminish citizenship—and that the diaspora remains a vital pillar of Liberia’s democratic future.
