The ruling Unity Party (UP) says it has officially endorsed the Articles of Merger Document that brings together the party and two other parties namely the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held over the weekend in Gbarnga, Bong County which was initially signed by its leader and endorsed by the party National Executive Committee. The convention, which took place in Gbarnga, Bong County was held under the theme “Uniting to UP-lift Liberia.” It brought together twenty five (25) delegates from each of the fifteen political subdivisions of the country and all members of the Executive Committee. 

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Vice President Ambassador Joseph Boakai, who are the Standard Bearer and Vice Standard Bearer of the Unity Party (UP), graced the occasion. Senior officials and executives of the Liberia Action Party and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) were also in attendance. A statement from the Unity Party (UP) said the essence of the convention was to scrutinize the Articles of Merger document; deliberate on its prospects and subsequently endorse it for the smooth operation of the merger.   Dr. Henrique Tokpa, President of Cuttington University and a partisan of the Unity Party (UP) served as the Keynote speaker. In his address, Dr. Tokpa highlighted the importance of the merger and the need for youth empowerment in postwar Liberia. He asserted that the union would hasten the process of togetherness and the quest to improve the quality of life for all Liberians.

For her part, the Unity Party (UP) Standard Bearer President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf reflected on the fight for multi-party democracy and the rule of law process and challenges and consequences that confronted the three parties in the merger during the regime of the late President Samuel K. Doe. She lamented on the role and visions of the founding fathers of the three parties when they came together to establish what was later known as the 'Grand Coalition,' in 1986 with the aim and commitment to cooperate and collaborate in the body politics of the country and in the interest of the coalition as a single body.  The Liberian leader also reflected on the issue of concern for job creation in every sector and challenged each partisan of the party to absorb two fellow partisans for employment. Other political leaders from the three parties who spoke at the occasion, imitated on the role of the founding fathers of the party and how they were humiliated and imprisoned against the constitution at the infamous and notorious Belle Yallah detention camp, which is now being transformed into a museum. Two of the founding fathers namely the late Jackson F. Doe of the Liberia Action Party and the late  William Gabriel Kpolleh of the Liberia Unification Party lost their lives because of their advocacy role in fostering the dreams and vision of the coalition and how they wanted multi party democracy take root in the country.

The three parties in the merger were organized or established in 1984 after the military regime of late President Samuel K. Doe lifted the ban on political activities, paving the way for the holding of the 1985 elections.   The fathers of the coalition namely; Beyan Kessely of the Unity Party, Hon. Jackson F. Doe of the Liberia Action Party and  William Gabriel Kpolleh of the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) canvassed for political leadership in the 1985 elections, anticipating a democratic environment for free expression to exercise their suffrage.  After the 1985 elections, the idea of a coalition was proffered and in 1986 it was established as the Grand Coalition and incorporated UP, LAP and LUP. This idea of the three parties working together once again, after they fell apart in the 2005 elections was signed on April 1, 2009 by the leaders of the collaborating political parties at the Monrovia City Hall.  “After hours of deliberation and disagreement, the accredited delegates representing the fifteen counties along with the Executive Committee finally endorsed and signed the Articles of Merger and are expected to participate in a joint convention by the end of March this year. The Merger carries the name Unity Party (UP) with the roster and hand shake as its symbol,” the statement from the party signed by Neto Zarzar Lighe of the publicity committee said.UP Endorses Merger With LAP, LUP.

The ruling Unity Party (UP) says it has officially endorsed the Articles of Merger Document that brings together the party and two other parties namely the Liberia Action Party (LAP) and the Liberia Unification Party (LUP) at a convention held over the weekend in Gbarnga, Bong County which was initially signed by its leader and endorsed by the party National Executive Committee.