HISTORIES OF LIBERIA generally began with the arrival of the Portuguese traders in the mid-1400s, and the rise of the trans-Atlantic trade. Coastal groups traded several goods with Europeans, and the area became generally known as the Grain Coast, because of its rich supply malagueta pepper grains.
IN 1816, THE future of this West African terrain changed dramatically due to the formation of the American Colonization Society (ACS) in the United States. Looking for a place to re-settle free-men and women of color who had been enslaved people, the ACS chose the Grain Coast. In 1822, the ACS founded these shores as a colony of the United States of America. Over the next few decades, 19,900 black African-American men and women migrated to the colony.
ON JULY 26, 1847, colony which later became a commonwealth declared its independence. Interestingly, the United States refused to acknowledge Liberia’s independence until 1862, when the U.S. government ended the practice of enslavement during the American Civil War.
AND SO ON Saturday, July 26, 2025, Liberia celebrated 178 years of existence as a nation. As Liberia commemorates 178 years of independence, in the words of Dr. Emmett L. Dunn, the Day’s Orator, “Let this day not pass as a ritual of speeches and parades. Let it be a day of recommitment. Let us renew our pledge, not only to celebrate our past, but to shape our future.”
TLP AGREES WITH Rev. Dunn, that “Let us be one people, bound not by convenience but by covenant. Let us walk toward one destiny, not a destiny handed to us, but one we forge together; with faith, with courage, and with love for our beloved Liberia. We have seen what disunity can do. Now, we must choose what unity can build.”
AMB. DUNN IS spot on when he says, Liberia cannot move forward if its people’s loyalties lie in self-interest, tribalism, or party politics. We must put country first, above personalities, above politics, above profit.
PUTTING LIBERIA FIRST means telling the truth, even when it is uncomfortable. It means rejecting corruption, no matter who benefits. It means demanding results, not just rhetoric. And it means recognizing that the destiny of this country lies not in the hands of a few but in all of us.
AMB. DUNN HAS it right when he iterated that the past 178 years have taught Liberians that the soul of this nation does not lie in the Office of the President or the chambers of the Senate or red dirt roads. It lies in the enduring hope of its people, the hope that tomorrow can be better than today.
“YES, THERE WILL be setbacks. But we are a resilient people. If we can survive years of civil conflicts, we can overcome unemployment. If we can rebuild after Ebola and COVID-19, we can rebuild trust in our systems. If we can celebrate 178 years of sovereignty, then surely, we can claim the next 100 years for growth and greatness.”
TLP STANDS WITH national orator Rev. Amb. Emmett L. Dunn that “Let this Independence Day mark a turning point. A point where we choose to build, not break. To include, not exclude. To rise, not retreat. To serve, not steal.”
“SO LET US honor the past, not just with speeches and fanfare, but with purpose and progress. Let us make our independence not just a historical fact, but a living promise. A promise that Liberia will be governed justly.”
THE 178TH INDEPENDENCE anniversary must indeed be a time for sober reflection, development, peace, harmony. love and growth. Let Liberians set an agenda for their country and put it on the path of national healing, reconciliation and growth. Let National Orator Dr. Emmett L. Dunn’s oration resonates with Liberians and may Liberians heed the message for the greater good of the country and its people.
