Monrovia, Liberia - The Liberian Islamic community under the banner Consortium of Muslims Youth Organizations in collaboration with the National Imams Council of Liberia on Saturday, April 30, gathered in mass at the Monrovia City Hall honoured, offered series of prayers and bid farewell to former Finance and Development Minister Amara Mohammed Konneh.
The consortium, also joined by the Liberia Muslim Women Network, and hundreds of the Liberia Muslim Ummah said it was impressed by the level of commitment and dedication demonstrated by the former Minister during his tour of duty in the country.
According to them, the former Minister had made Muslims proud, and further exemplified the good principles their religion propagates. They told the gathering that Mr. Konneh remains an outstanding example not only to young Muslims but also to Liberians across the country.
The Muslim Youth Consortium, through the Liberia Women Network gowned President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for giving Minister Konneh the opportunity to serve his people. The various Muslim groups chanted praises to the Liberian Leader at the jam-packed theatre of the Monrovia City Hall.
Responding to the honor bestowed on her and former Minister, President Sirleaf said she was sad that Mr. Konneh will not be reached readily as before to seek his council. The President said the Mr. Konneh has proven outstanding in his discipline, making him an asset to the national development process. She noted that government has already given him due recognition for his services and that the hard work and great contributions to country and people will not be forgotten.
President Sirleaf said, it was however a great pride for Mr. Konneh and Liberia as well as his country to have been selected by the World Bank through a competitive process to serve several countries.
The Liberian Leader also told the huge crowd in the Monrovia City Hall theatre that she was convince that the Minster would certainly and always remember Liberia.
“I am not a prophet and not a visionary but I can tell you Amara will miss Liberia and he will be back,” the President said to the cheer of the many well-wishers.
Former Minister Amara Konneh has served at least ten years in various government positions including Minister of Finance, Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs and Deputy Chief of staff in the office of the president. He resigned recently to take on his new job at the World Bank fragility hub in Nairobi, Keny.
The Liberian Chief Executive thanked the Muslim Community for honoring their son and particularly thanked the family of Minister Konneh as well as his wife and children for allowing him worked for Liberia.
Responding, outgoing Minister Konneh expressed gratitude to the Muslim Community - particularly the Imams, students and youth leaders who reached out to him and received his support in countless forms.
Mr. Konneh said his performance in the cabinet was not because he was the smartest, but because of the prayers of his people and God’s wisdom bestowed on him to look at things differently.
“When the President asked me to serve, recognizing that I was the only Muslim in her cabinet, I had a talk with God. I had a talk with God in my own way. I asked God to please protect me, guide me and give me the wisdom so that I don’t make my community shame. I had that talk with God,” Minister Konneh said.
He expressed the hope that when Liberia looks back at his performance here and at the great mentoring and experience to which he submitted himself under President Sirleaf’s tutorship, the Muslim Community and the country will consider his work well-done and his life well-lived.
The former Minister of Finance and Development, who resigned his post for a prestigious World Bank position in Kenya spoke on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at an appreciation program organized by a consortium of Muslim organizations at the Monrovia City Hall prior to his departure to Kenya.
The Ceremony was graced by hundreds of Liberian Muslims comprising delegates from the counties, senior government officials friends and well-wishers including those that felt the impact of the former minister’s gratuity among others.