In modern times it is salient to record that social, political and cultural development move pari passu with economic development. But a pre-requisite to instituting any form of development is by firstly alleviating mental poverty. This is the first and foremost challenge post-war economists, scholars, intellectuals, and academics must be faced with. This in my view is also responsible for the high growth rate of corruption and systematic breakdown of morals in Liberia today. If serious care is not taken, it is likely that this factor might have a far reaching influence on the outcomes of the october's elections. It is therefore in this regards that I view mental poverty alleviation as the first of the challenges to post-war development in Liberia.

 

Mental enrichment encompasses increasing the value of services or income levels of the citizenry. It involves political,cultural,spiritual and educational transformation of the human mind to inaugurate economic developments. It enhances freedom from servitude and social backwardness.

 

Liberians prior to the war have been locking horns with the disadvantages associated with western cultural infiltrations and today the combats are even more bloodcurdling and horrifying. but whatsoever the degree of gravity of the matter maybe, i actually think that the more hectic and hefty the agony and torture of a particular situation the more dexterous and radical the challenges ought to be in curtailing such effect.

 

I therefore recommend in this regard a radical re-orientation exercise throughout the length and birth of the Republic of Liberia. This aspect shall be geared towards enlightening and decontaminating the minds of affected Liberians to include: a more comprehensive sense of rationalism; a more nationalistic restructuring of curriculum and educational frameworks at the primary and tertiary levels of education. There shall also be a more systematic and dynamic social cultural setting to embrace the core values of ethics, norms and civilization; and a more radical response to political and socio-economic issues. These i believe shall give rise to human resource development which than implies freedom of choices - political, social, economic and cultural freedom and freedom from servitude.

 

Fellow compatriots, the task is indeed a colossal one and if we must eradicate these cankerworms that has eaten deep into the bones and marrows of our society we must do it with valor unpretendings. If Liberia must live up to the true meaning of its creed, we must alleviate firstly among the many challenges mental poverty.

I summit.