Audience at the GIA Launch, Amb. Juli Endee, Founder of GIA Rep. Munah Youngblood, Guest Speaker
Tubmanburg, the provincial capital city of Bomi County Saturday, June 15, 2013 witnessed the extraordinary launch of the 3rd edition of the Golden Image Award (GIA) in an atmosphere of glamour, elegance, excellence and approbation, symptomatic of the resounding celebration of the pending national independence celebration.
The inaugural and ground-breaking edition of the GIA, which is on the verge of becoming Liberia’s only outstanding national and international recognition endeavor, was launched in 2011 after months of intensive and somehow heart-breaking planning.
The Liberia Crusaders for Peace, an Advocacy and Peace-building organization through its Executive Director and Founder, Ambassador Juli Endee originated and invented the concept in 2010 as platform that values the efforts and contributions of legendary characters that impact the world stage in the area of humanity, education, peace-building, human rights.
Highly profiled personalities from Liberia and other parts of the world proudly received the GIA during the first and second editions and several other distinguished, researched and selected nominees will walk with the GIA this year.
The Liberian government has given its blessing to the concept of the GIA which is held every year and forms part of activities marking the observance of Liberia’s independence celebration. It is also in honor of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in recognition of her selfless political struggles over the years which made her precursor of women political leadership emancipation on the African Continent, considering that she is the first democratically-elected female President.
The launch of the 3rd edition of the GIA in Tubmanburg, the first of its kind since the award was begun, commensurate with this year’s National Independence Observance jointly hosted by Bomi, Cape Mount and Gbarpolu Counties, with Tubmanburg as the epicenter of the main event.
The Administrative Building in Tubmanburg was awash with the presence of citizens drawn from Bomi, gbarpolu and Cape Mount and Monrovia, among them traditional leaders, students as well as local and national officials of government.
GIA officials say the overwhelming participation of young men and women from all religious and social backgrounds at the official launch of the red-lettered event was an impetus that also drove the colorfulness of the occasion, which the Bomi County Development Superintendent hoped would become Liberia’s acclaimed award event.
On behalf of Superintendent Samuel O. Brown, Mr. Ernest G. Davies conveyed Bomi’s appreciation to the organizers of the GIA for choosing Tubmanburg for the launch of this year’s edition of the GIA.
He made particular notation of GIA’s Founder and Event Planner, Ambassador Juli Endee, whom he referred to as hardworking and innovative lady, for initiating the event of appealing international flavor.
The Development Superintendent hoped that the Golden Image Award will become a brand name that others in the region will emulate the good steps of Liberia.
The desire of the planners of the GIA is to institutionalize it in a way that becomes a sole national undertaking.
An upbeat Grand Cape Mount County Mohammed Passawe, who officially launched the GIA on behalf of Samuel Brown of Bomi County, said the launch of the event in that part of Liberia, the first of its kind outside Monrovia, was consequential.
Despite the strength of the wind that is blowing across the horizon and attempting to put things in disarray, he said the western bloc of the country, the host of the Independence Day celebrations, remains steadfast and set to make history.
The launch of the 3rd edition of the GIA in Tubmanburg, according to him, bears understandable testimony of their readiness and preparedness.
“We are grateful today. We will preserve this moment for our children and our children’s children to come and we cannot afford to fail,” Supt. Passawe noted.
“As we assemble here today to launch the Golden Image Award, to launch Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, we are glad to have the Ambassador of Culture to recognize people unseen and unheard of.”
“When history is recorded, at least, in our life time, there is someone to tell their history. We are glad to be part of that history making.”
Let it be said that this ceremony will be recorded; that July 26, 2013 will be recorded
Keynote Speaker Representative Munah Pelham Youngblood of District #9 Montserrado County hailed the organizers of the GIA and even reminded Liberians of the essence of “Time,” rallying Liberians to attach to time value because “when you waste time, time will definitely waste you.”
Rep. Youngblood, in a very pointed and brawny voice, reminded all Liberians of their duties to the nation, stressing “it is everyone’s business to protect the image of the country.”
Protecting the image of the country means that Liberians should avoid engaging into illegal, immoral and unacceptable deportments which have the tendency to besmear not only their characters and that of country.
Before her ascendency to the position of lawmaker, Rep. Youngblood demonstrated enormous support to the GIA and the work of the LCP.
Event Planner and Founder Ambassador Juli Endee was over exhilarated at the successful launch of the event in Tubmanburg, which is also a highly cost intensive undertaking.
She capped the Tubmanburg event as the best, considering the participation of the three superintendents of the counties of the western region.
Sunday, April 8, 2012, exactly at 2pm the Salvation Army Church located in Sinkor is the day set aside for the second video launch.
