Cllr. Abla Gadegbeku Williams
[By Pewu Y. Sumo]
Monrovia – The Liberia Refugee Repatriation and Resettlement Commission (LRRRC) today, June 20, observed the World Refugee Day 2025 with a call for a pledge to keep our communities safe.
The event which was held under the theme: “Community as a superpower,” began with a parade in Monrovia that saw scores of stakeholders trooped into the Ball Room of the Monrovia City Hall.
Speaking at the event, keynote speaker Cllr. Abla Gadegbeku Williams praised the organizers of the event for her preferment as keynote speaker, saying, “I am indeed humbled and consider myself privileged to serve as your keynote speaker at this World Refugee Day program being celebrated in Liberia.”
Cllr. Williams also went on to thank the organizers for selecting her among people whom, according to her, “are better or have similar expertise in the refugee regime.”
“When I was asked to speak at this very important occasion, the first thing that came to my mind was, I am blessed.”
Cllr. Williams said Liberia is a stable country thereby allowing her not to be a refugee since she is currently living in her country of origin in peace, dignity and respect.
She then asked what could become of her if she is forced to leave Liberia and her identity changes as refugee. “What are my expectations, what treatment do I want, what rights as a woman I will be entitled to?” Cllr. Williams asked.
Cllr. Williams called on stakeholders and participants in the hall to reflect on what it would mean to leave the comfort of one’s home.
“We are part of a global community, and we must pledge to keep our communities safe and ensure that no one is forced to flee their home and change their name to refugee.”
Cllr. Williams said no one can choose to be a refugee – questioning the source of funding to shoulder the burden of ‘global solutions.’
The 2025 World Refugee Day keynote speaker further went on to ask, “What financial obligation must a government endure to protect both the citizens, residents and including refugees.”
She said, every year in June, the world is reminded about the plight of people who are forced to flee their country of origin to escape conflicts, disasters due to climate change or even due to health emergencies.
June 20 is observed throughout the world as World Refugee Day, a day that raises awareness about the challenges, stigma and discrimination refugees faced around the globe.
In commemoration of this year’s World Refugee Day celebration in Monrovia, dozens of refugees received a symbolic ID card from the Liberia Immigration Service (LIS) which indicated their integration into the Liberian society.
The day-long event also saw a parade and a soccer match between the refugees and LRRRC/Host Community.
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