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Members of the Council of Elders,
Our Dynamic Presenters: Mrs. Alfreda Cheaye-Wulu and Mr. Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor, Madame Vice President
and members of the Administration, Fellow Kinsmen, Friends, Ladies and gentlemen.
A former British Prime Minister and author, Benjamin Disraeli once said: “Action may not always bring happiness;
but there is no happiness without action”.
Eleven and half years ago, a group of concerned individuals from Gborho came together in Providence,
Rhode Island to form a community based association, in order to cater the social, economic and developmental
needs of Gborho citizens in the United States, Liberia and elsewhere in the world. Because of our uniqueness,
the group felt it would be best to leave politics out of our operation although no organization can exist
without politics. It was decided that all officials would be appointed/selected by a Council of Elders who,
at the time included: Mr. Amos K. Gaye, Mr. Sampson L. K. Diahn and General Charles Julue. Mr. Alfred P.
Gaye and Mr. Dennis Slanger were selected President and Vice President respectively, thus, giving birth to
Gborho Ahmuyan Association.
Over the years, the Association has grown to a proportional size both in terms of its membership,
and responsibilities. The leaderships have tried to direct its energies to Ahmuyan’s activities but,
have been distracted by national issues and sometimes by the lack of interest by members, who only came
together when the community is struck with tragedies.
Since 2001, the Association has embarked upon meeting the financial needs of its members by helping to underwrite
the funeral costs and other social expenses. The administration has observed that the organization continues to
provide this needed assistance to members as a response to occurring events and providing a quick-impact solution.
During the period under review, the Association has provided over eighteen thousand ($18,000.00) in death benefits
to members in the United States, and nine hundred ($900.00) for school assistance in Gborho.
Even though the Association continues to provide immediate relief to its members during bereavement, there
are other problems affecting the community as a whole, such as lack of support for Gborho area school system,
health care, safe drinking water, farming tools and educational assistance in form of scholarships to Gborho
children that need to be considered. While I do not regret the assistance provided to families during their
period of grieve, I feel that we should also go beyond the $900.00 provided to the schools on a quick-fix basis
and also put a cap on the amount that will be expanded to families.
As many of you in attendance here today may record, the school in Zaitown, the central of Gborho,
was built in the early 1960s. Students used to walk from Gwein Town, Bargblor Town, Swaken, Samuel Town,
and Tuzon in pursuit of elementary education. Many of those who were fortunate to graduate could not
continue their education in our area because there was no junior or Senior High School. They also could
not continue schooling in Zwedru because they either could not afford it or could not find an accommodation
and their only option was to enlist into the Armed Forces of Liberia. Today, with an elementary education,
there is no chance for enlistment into the Armed Forces. What then can we do to avert this dilemma? This is
a question for you and me to find an answer to during this conference.
For the period that we, Gborho people, held political and to some extend economic
power in Liberia, education was not prioritized and today, the five decade old structure
is still standing in Zaitown by the mercy of the Almighty. Ladies and gentlemen, basic education
is vital for our people. Currently, there are no trained teachers, no textbooks and other materials
for instruction and the structure needs to be replaced. This is our challenge and I believe we can do it.
This conference is another milestone in our long journey to reflect on our past and set a course of action
for ourselves and our people. We have faced many challenges. At times we have overcome, and other times we
have been unable to confront them. We find our responsibilities increasing, and these bring with them a host
of new difficulties and new challenges. But I am confident that as an organization and as a people, we will
remain resolute by the need to make hard choices. Our vision reinforces this belief.
As we strive for development and empowerment, let us remember all the sacrifices that
our past leaders have made to bring us to this moment of our history. The gathering together
here today demonstrates that we will remain faithful and committed to the ideals that have guided us,
showing us the path we may follow to achieve our vision for the future of our clan.
What then is our vision for the membership and our people?
- Strengthening the association by providing strong leadership—being accountable, transparent
and motivating the membership to help translate our vision into reality; intervene among members to
settle differences and encourage reconciliation.
- Basic assistance to the members to encourage active participation.
- That Gborho will again be a society with a vibrant traditional culture and a sustainable environment.
- It will be a prosperous society with adequate food, shelter and clothing for all.
- People will be literate, knowledgeable and skilled with the provision of educational
infrastructure and materials. They will be healthy, and live a long, productive life with available
medical resources. They will actively participate in economic and social development, promoting social
equality and unity.
These will be secured based on a sound management and sustainable utilization of resources.
This vision, we hope is to be realized through the achievement of goals and development targets.
In the area of development goals, we wish to prioritize education and health care of the people,
improve the economic, social and cultural well being of individuals, families and the clan. Reduce
the burden on those in the clan who are unable to help themselves. We will need principles to guide
our actions and progress in achieving these goals. As such, we ask for the full cooperation and participation
of all members in the economic and social processes and activities. We are also asking for integrity, hard work,
efficiency, transparency and accountability in all functions
of the association.
As a start to realizing this vision, we have appointed a seven man Strategic Development Planning committee to
develop a five-year Development Plan for the clan and established a governing Board of Directors which will be
responsible to:
- Determine the organization’s mission and purpose.
- Support the president and review his performance.
- Ensure effective organizational planning.
- Ensure adequate resources.
- Determine and monitor the organization’s programs and services.
- Enhance the organization’s public image.
Our brothers and sisters have agreed to undertake these tasks. Committee members are: Mr. Edmund Zar-Zar Bargblor,
Mr. Emmanuel B. Taye, Mrs. Annie Zeon-Yonly, Mr. Alfred P. Gaye, Mr. William H. Diahn, Mr. Morris Cheaye, and Mr. Gabriel
Sayee.
The Board members are: Hon. G. Alvin Jones, Mr. Edmund Bargblor, Mr. Emmanuel Taye, Mr. Alfred P. Gaye,
Hon. William Glay, Mrs. Annie Zeon-Yonly, and Ms. Sharon Browne. We hope that with the composition of this
committee and the governing Board of Directors, they will work speedily and their work will serve as a motivating
factor to energize and pull together resources to help rebuild our home, a home where health care and educational
facilities are non-existent and the basic necessities of life can highly be found. God bless Ahmuyan and thank you
for coming.
State of Ahmuyan
Speech
By
A. Layee Mendin
President, Gborho Ahmuyan Association
At
The 2006 Convention of Gborho Ahmuyan
221 Spruce Street, Colwyn, PA
July 1, 2006
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