26 May 2011
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf arrived in the United States of America Sunday, 22 May 2011, to participate in ceremonies marking the 360th Commencement Convocation of Harvard University. The Liberian leader will serve as Guest Speaker for this year’s Commencement to be held on Thursday, 26 May 2011, in Cambridge, Massachusetts.
The President was received Sunday morning at the Dulles International Airport by US State Department Officials and senior staff of the Liberian embassy in Washington DC, led by Ambassador William Bull.
The President has been holding a number on private meetings in Washington, including one held on Sunday, May 23, with members of the Unity Party in the United States. The UP members have been embroiled in a leadership dispute involving two rival groups, one headed Mr. Gayah Fahnbulleh and the other by Mr. Sam Gibson.
The President and Standard Bearer of the Unity Party, commended members of the Unity Party-USA branch for the level of support for the policies and programs of the Government. Their support, the President said, has been crucial to the overall success the government has achieved.
The President urged members of the group to work together to achieve the objective of the party and avoid distraction which may undermine the unity and cohesiveness of the UP USA-branch.
The Unity Party Standard Bearer directed the two groups to work out a compromise arrangement which would bring the leadership of both sides under one structure. The contending parties agreed to work together in the interest of the party and the State to reach an amicable resolution of the leadership feud within the USA-branch of the Unity Party, in keeping with the directives of the Standard bearer.
The contending parties welcomed the President’s intervention and assured her of their willingness to work together in harmony for the betterment of the UP-USA branch.
President Johnson Sirleaf’s official delegation to the United States includes Hon. Robert Sirleaf, Senior Advisor to the President, Hon. Amara Konneh, Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs and Hon. Norris Tweah, Deputy Minister of Information, among others.
AllAfrica – All the Time