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Speaking Tuesday, August 11, 2020, as guest of honor and keynote speaker at the Forum on Impact Assessment on a Joint Ecumenical Collective Response Action to COVID-19 Pandemic organized by the Faith Justice Network in Monrovia, Madam Sirleaf renowned that Liberia must begin to plan for an “active effect” of COVID-19 if the response effort is not void of politics, the country would continue to have unfavorable reports on the spread of the pandemic.
She describes COVID-19 as an economic and health shock that is leaving devastating costs on lives and stifling the livelihoods of citizens. “We must care for the most vulnerable amongst us and use available resources as prudently as we possibly can,” she said, “Our churches have a responsibility too – to guide the flocks,’ the former president said. “This is possible by lifting the voices of the church in truth, and teaching that we take responsibilities for the direction of our lives and the advances we wish to make while asking the Almighty for his blessings and protection along the way.”
The forum brought together 55 senior church leaders and civil society organizations. The ecumenical forum was motivated by the urgent need for the churches and church-related organizations within the Mano River Basin Countries of West Africa to promote effective coordination response actions as a strategy to mitigate potential threats in the spread of the Coronavirus disease which has led to multiple domestic violence against women and girls, stigmatization, human rights abuses, crime, sexual gender–based violence and other threats to human security.
In his introductory and welcome statements, the Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors, Rev. Dr. Nuwoe–James Kiamu stressed that the Church has not lost its prophetic voice, even if that voice is now softer, less forceful, and sporadic. Rev. Dr. Kiamu assured that the FJN will launch an “Impacts Assessment and Joint Ecumenical Collective Response Action to the COVID-19 Pandemic and identify risks and threats to human security caused by COVID–19, assess government and church’s responses to the COVID-19 pandemic, assess compliance of citizens and residents with governments’ health policies and pronouncements.
Speakers during the forum included Pastor Gemane G. Getteh of the Seventh Day Adventist Central Church in Monrovia on Biblical Perspectives on Pandemic, Peace and Justice amidst COVID –19 Pandemic, Dr. Roland T. Clarke on Impacts Assessment and Data Analysis for Collective Response Action to COVID – 19 Pandemic, Rev. Dr. Ron Shellhamer, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (Zoom Conference) and Dr. Tony Karbo, Executive Director, N’Zarama Center for Peacebuilding, Cote d’Ivoire (Zoom Conference) both on Holistic Understanding of “Preferential Option for the Poor” amid COVID-19 pandemic and Mrs. Patricia Kamara, Executive Director, Christian Health Association of Liberia on Information and Analysis on how and why Gender matters in COVID-19 Response – focusing on the increase in domestic violence amid the COVID-19 Pandemic.
