Monrovia-Victims of Waterside in Central Monrovia over the weekend praised President George Weah for a presentation of $USD 100,000 as a contribution to them following a fire incident that left about eight persons wounded and several houses including stores burned on Friday, August 13, 2021.
A team of government officials representing the Liberia leader presented the cash in a black bag before the eyes of many journalists on Friday, August 27, 2021, at the Monrovia City Hall.
Presenting the gesture on behave of the president office, Hon. Nathaniel F. McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Friday presented the sum of one hundred thousand United States Dollars (US$100,000.00) to Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee who in return presented it to the leadership of the Waterside fire victims.
According to Minister McGill, the cash presentation is in fulfillment of the President’s commitment made during his visit to Waterside, where the disastrous fire outbreak occurred.
“I am here on behalf of the President, H.E. Dr. George Weah. The President asked me to convey his message to those who were affected. When the President went to Waterside, he made a personal commitment and I have come to fulfill it on his behalf”, he lamented.
For his part, Monrovia City Mayor Jefferson T. Koijee appreciated President Weah for living up to his commitment. He further thanked Minister McGill for representing President Weah remarking “we want to say thank you so much Mr. Minister for ably representing our president”.
He at the same time encouraged the leadership of the fire victims to utilize the money for its intended purpose and cautioned Aminata and Sons Incorporated, owner of the gas tanker that lost control and blasted, leaving flanks that exposed into the fire to do the honorable thing to avoid public misconception and disappointment.
“We understand that Aminata and Sons have decided to reach out. We will allow them to come forth”, Mayor Koijee emphasized.
“What occurred in Waterside was extremely catastrophic. The people were seriously affected. As the people begin to pick up their broken pieces, Aminata and Sons should also do the honorable thing. We do not want the public to be disappointed in the way Aminata and Sons will conduct itself in this situation”, he added.
Kojiee used the time to called on those he believes are patriotic citizens who can afford including NGOs, civil society organizations, international partners to consider reaching out to the victims.
Receiving the money on behalf of the fire disaster victims, Mohammed Majah Barry, president of the Fula Business Association in Liberia expressed happiness for such a donation intended for victims of the fire outbreak
and thanked President Weah for the kind gesture.
He said it is first of its kind for the country’s Head of State to fulfill a personal commitment through cash, something he termed unprecedented.
Also in attendance were, the Executive Director of National Disaster Management Agency Henry O. Williams, Montserrado County District nine Lawmaker Hon. Frank Saah Foko, Head of Large Business James K. Sackie, Chairman of 0508 Community Isaiah R. Lincoln, Chairman of Petit Traders Emmanuel Nimely, and Head of fire victims Assunta Wleh, formed part of the occasion.
