31/12/2024
Summary of the Final Day and Closing Program activities of KPU 2024 Prayer Conference
Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah Alhamdulillah
Yesterday, Monday, December 30, 2024 marked the final Day and Closing Program of KPU 2024 Prayer Conference in Sarkonedu, Quadu Gbonie District, Lofa County, Republic of Liberia.
The program started by 9:00 AM after the Subh Salat (morning prayer). The program was divided into two segments. The first Segment consisted of a keynote address by the guest speaker and statements from government officials and other dignitaries present.
Firstly, the opening prayer was done by Alhaji Fuad Umaru Sheriff, National Chief Imam of the Sierra Leone People's Party. Next in the program was a welcome remark which was made by Commissioner James Mawolo, Commissioner of Voinjama District. After that, Chief Amara Kamara, the chief of the Kamaras/Jomandies who are considered the chiefs of the land gave a brief statement. In his statement, he thanked the KPU leadership for organizing such a unique program on his territory. He encouraged the leadership to continue this prayer conference for the unity and development of the sub region. He also suggested that this prayer conference should continue for more than seven years as earlier planned by the leadership of KPU.
Next on the agenda was the keynote address which was delivered by young scholar Dr. Sheikh Salih Abbas Kanneh, Head of Body of Imams of the National Muslim Council of Liberia. He spoke on the topic polygamy as a means of giving justice to women. He started his address by acknowledging that every verse that was revealed by God in the Glorious Quran has a wisdom behind it. He further said that, one of the wisdoms behind polygamy is to give justice to women. The reason is that the women's population is more than the population of men.
Therefore every woman needs to be catered to accordingly. Besides, you have widows who need caring and protection, polygamy is the only means through which these widows can be taken care of. He concluded his address by saying that, polygamy is the solution to many societal problems and therefore it should be encouraged.
After the keynote address, brief statements were taken from the government officials and other dignitaries present. The first person to give a statement was Alhaji Fuad Daboh, Director General of NASSIT, who represented H. E. Julius Maada Bio, President of the Republic of Sierra Leone. He extended the greetings from his Excellency President Bio to the KPU members. He said that the President is very happy about KPU. He said, the President believes that this prayer conference has solved many problems in the sub region especially Sierra Leone. That is the reason he has always supported and contributed to the organization of the prayer conference.
On behalf of President Bio, Hon. Daboh presented five hundred United States Dollars ($500) and fifty thousand Leones (Le 50,000 new notes) or fifty million Leones (50,000,000 old notes) as the contribution of President Bio. He concluded his statement by stating that, given the importance of the prayer conference, President Bio is requesting for the 2025 KPU Prayer Conference to be hosted in Sierra Leone at which time he himself will be there.
On the side of the Liberia government, Sheikh Sekou Sheriff, the Islamic Advisor to the President represented H.E. President Joseph N Boakai, the president of the Republic of Liberia. He started his statement by extending the president's greetings to the people of KPU. He said, the President himself would have wanted to be here but due to international engagement, he would not be here. Notwithstanding, the president expressed his gratitude to the leadership and the general membership of KPU for hosting this year's prayer conference in his country and during the first year of his administration. He said, the President believes that this prayer conference would address many challenges in the country.
Sheikh Sheriff presented five thousand United States Dollars ($5000) as the contribution of the president Boakai and his government for this rewarding prayer conference. He also concluded his statement by saying that the President wishes for the 2025 prayer conference to be hosted again in Liberia because of its benefits.
In the same vein, the representative from Guinea also extended greetings from the government of Guinea and expressed delight in the organization of such a unique program in the sub region. Mr. Amara Toure, Chairman of KPU, Guinea Chapter also requested that the 2025 KPU prayer conference should be organized in Guinea.
Many other dignitaries including but not limited to Hon. Ali Kaba of Sierra Leone, Commissioner Abdullah Kamara of Liberia and Hon. Gizzie Collince of District #4, Lofa County also expressed their profound gratitude for hosting the prayer conference.
The International Chairman of KPU, Mr. Foday M Sesay closed the first segment of the program. He expressed his profound thanks and appreciation to his executives and the general membership of KPU for hosting the fifth successive prayer conference. He said it is the small small monies put together by the members of KPU that facilitated the successful hosting of this program. The Chairman encouraged all members of KPU to obtain their membership ID card and also pay their monthly due because the due and the ID card make you a legitimate member of KPU.
The Chairman also thanked all the Imams/Kamohs for their tireless efforts in making this program a success. Additionally, the chairman thanked all the presidents for their meaningful contribution through their various representatives. The chairman renewed his request he made in Massabolahun two years ago to the governments whose representatives were present. His request is, every government should help KPU with Five vehicles and 50 motor bikes.
At the same time, the International Chairman introduced his wife Madam Aminata Jabateh Sesay and pleaded with the congregation to allow his wife to make a brief statement. Madam Aminata Jabateh Sesay started her statement by recognizing the efforts of KPU women. She said KPU women are the engines for the success of every KPU program. She also requested from the Imams and Kamohs to pray for KPU's children. She emphasized that our children need special prayers because some of them are going ashtray; therefore, the Imams and the Kamohs should offer special prayers for our children.
The International Chairman closed his remark by honoring and gowning Honorable Vaforay Musa Kamara, Chairman, KPU Liberia Chapter for his tireless efforts and commitment in KPU for the past five prayer conferences.
In the second segment, the podium was turned over to the Imams and Kamohs for the closing Dua/supplication. The Imams and the Kamohs appointed Alhaji Vamuyan Sheriff, the Chief Imam of Lofa County to read the closing supplication. The organizers of the Quranic Recitation said that there were 1,700 imams and Kamohs who recited various recitations. Some of them recited the full Quran, some recited other chapters of the Quran while others recited Swalatu Alan-Nabiyy. The program was concluded by the recitation of the closing supplication of the Quran and also supplication by different imams and Kamohs in various languages including Arabic, Mandingo, Mende and Gbandi.
The program finally finished by 4:30 PM. Alhamdulillah, many people returned to their various destinations safely while other people spent the night in Sarkonedu.
May Allah accept all the supplications offered for all of us. May Allah make us attend many KPU programs with good health and wealth.
