Thursday, 26th June 2008
Monrovia, Liberia - The Liberian Government has chosen 10 winners of the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS) Naming Competition, launched in late March. Dr. Shadrack R. A. Bryant was chosen as the Grand Prize Winner for his entry, LIFT LIBERIA. Dr. Bryant was born in Monrovia, Liberia and is currently Vice Principal of the E.J. Goodridge High School in Barnersville. He described his entry as a slogan that will encourage Liberians “to embrace a brighter future,” devoid of the mistakes of the past. When notified about his award-winning entry, Bryant said, “I am overwhelmed with joy to be selected by our dynamic and God-given leader, Her Excellency Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, President of the Republic of Liberia. It is my prayer that I will be of more assistance and blessing to my beloved country.” Dr. Bryant will receive a US$1,000.00 cash prize, US$100.00 in scratch cards, and an all-expense paid 3-day trip to any county of his choice.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her Cabinet chose LIFT LIBERIA because it captures in a succinct manner what the people of Liberia, with the help of Government initiatives, are attempting to do. Over 200 entries were judged on a 25-point system for originality, coherence, brevity, creativity, and applicability to Liberia’s PRS. The Competition allowed Liberians in the 15 counties to decide not only the scope of their development plan, but also the conceptual framework for describing that vision and its policies and programs in a unique slogan or phrase unique to Liberia. Participants were asked to sms entries, e-mail entries or deliver entries to their respective county superintendent offices. Nine consolation prize winners were chosen in this order: Paul Winn, Jr., Own Your Own; Frederick Hunda, Jr., Work for All, Wealth for All; Archibald S. Abban, Work for Something, Don’t Sit for Nothing; Burphy J.K. Herron, From Poverty to Plenty; Humphert Whiegar, Total Involvement for National Development; Jehu Kune Browne, Live to Work, Work to Live; Pricilla Johnson, A New Liberia for New Liberians; ***Abubakar Morris, Hut to House Policy***; and Prince Kallon, Do It Yourselves. Winners will be available for interviews upon request.
In April 2008, Liberia launched its PRS which outlines policies and programs to enhance national security, increase economic growth, strengthen governance and rule of law, and develop infrastructure while providing basic services. The FINAL PRS is available for review on the Executive Mansion site (www.emansion.gov.lr) as well as the Ministry of Finance website (http://www.mofliberia.org/). Hard copies of the PRS are now in circulation.
The Liberia Poverty Reduction Forum (LPRF) begins today in Berlin, Germany. The LPRF provides the opportunity to present Liberia’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy to its partners and will highlight the goals and anticipated challenges during the implementation phase.