The My Hero Project - Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

"The Liberian people are a resilient people. They have suffered through a lot but they are committed to moving ahead to a future of hope and promise."
~ Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf

FREEDOM HERO:
ELLEN JOHNSON-SIRLEAF
by Patrick Kiyemba from Pretoria

Her Excellence, President Ellen Johnson

My hero is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, the first African democratically elected female head of the state. She was declared president by the Liberian Elections Commission, which followed her victory on November 23, 2005. She is a hero because of her efforts in focusing to restore basic services, such as water and electricity, to the capital of Monrovia. She has established a Commission to address crimes committed during the later stages of Liberia's long civil war. As president of Liberia, she is working to bring back Liberia's food independence.

Refugee children with mothers in Liberia

As president, Sirleaf hopes to bring her economic experience in relation to the international community, to aid in the restoring of her country's economy and infrastructure. She called upon all foreign investors to take part in investing in her country, so that the economy of Liberia will grow.

Refugees in Liberia

In her mission of restoring peace and freedom in Liberia, she thanks Nigeria for its help in securing Liberia's peace, for helping in the repatriation of the exiled Liberians, for investing in the country, and also for participating in Liberia's rebuilding efforts.

President Sirleaf's administration contains many members from the previous government. It is her country's hope that her strong leadership and desire for unity will enable her to smooth over Liberia's troubled past. Unity among the Liberian community would be a shining example to other African leaders and communities that freedom and peace can remain strong in her country.

Sirleaf and African leaders from Sierra Leone and Guinea

Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf spoke about the urgency of Liberia's important issues in an address to the community of Washington, DC, in October 2006, at
Georgetown University's Gaston Hall:

"Across Africa and around the world, we must show that freedom can deliver prosperity and peace. Failure to do so will be more costly than we can contemplate and in Liberia that failure could be catastrophic."
"Our children are beginning to smile again with faith in the future," she said. "I tell you there is one thing that bores down on us very, very hard and that is a sense of urgency. We have got to deliver fast to be able to keep that hope alive and to have that hope build on a solid foundation."

Hope in Liberia

"We are trying between now and at the end of the dry season to make sure that there are [an] additional 10 schools that will be renovated in our nation. We have struggled to improve the enrollment of our children, particularly the girl child. There is now compulsory primary and free education in our primary and elementary schools. Not only would old roads be conditioned, but also old roads should become brand new ones. In Monrovia, there will be at least 400 miles of roads that would be completely redone." Interview with
Reverend Dr. Laurence Konmla Bropleh

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf's leadership is bringing change and hope to the Liberian community. The desperately needed economic, social and political development of her resource-wealthy country is underway and the world is watching and hoping, too.

Read another story about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf by Caroline, Julia and Zoe from New Haven County, CT

Written by Patrick Kiyemba from Pretoria

RELATED LINKS
Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, President of Liberia Her road to the presidency

VOA News "Liberia's President Sirleaf Launches Poverty Reduction Program"

Liberian Embassy in Washington DC

EXTRA INFORMATION
Find out the latest news for all of Africa at All Africa.com.
Type in "Sirleaf" or "Liberia" in the search box for news of President Sirleaf.

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Last changed on:1/4/2008 5:14:42 PM