Correct: Top Government Officials Absent from National Flag Day Celebrations
Claim: "Top government officials' absence from national Flay Day celebration"
Source: Verity Online News
Verdict: our research found the claim about top officials being absent from the nation's flag day celebration to be correct.
Verdict: our research found the claim about top officials being absent from the nation's flag day celebration to be correct.
Full Text: On 24 August 1847, about a month after Liberia declared independence on 26 July, the national flag was officially adopted. The design was created by a committee of seven women led by Susannah Elizabeth Lewis, all born in the United States.The flag was first observed during the founding convention in 1847, when the new republic’s symbol and constitution were confirmed.
On 24 October 1915, President Daniel Edward Howard signed legislation making 24 August a national holiday, “National Flag Day”—to be observed with appropriate ceremonies. This established August 25 of each year to be officially a public holiday. ever since then, the country continues to observe this day.
During the nation 178 flag day celebration, a newspaper reported that top government officials including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, and Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence were all absent from this year's event.
On 24 October 1915, President Daniel Edward Howard signed legislation making 24 August a national holiday, “National Flag Day”—to be observed with appropriate ceremonies. This established August 25 of each year to be officially a public holiday. ever since then, the country continues to observe this day.
During the nation 178 flag day celebration, a newspaper reported that top government officials including President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung, House Speaker Richard Nagbe Koon, and Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence were all absent from this year's event.
Verification: Our newsroom conducted a thorough verification of the claim by contacting the offices of the mentioned officials and reviewing live coverage of the celebrations.
Senate Pro-Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence confirmed her absence via WhatsApp, stating: "Good afternoon, I am not in the country." She explained that she was attending The United Bassa Organization in the Americas (UNIBAO) convention in Pennsylvania, United States.
House Speaker Richard Koon's office, through senior communications staff member Vehzelee Sumo, confirmed: "The Speaker was at a program, along with the Vice President, in Nimba County today."
Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung's office was contacted through Solomon Ware, who responded: "Thanks. Will revert after consulting with my bosses."
President Joseph Nyuma Boakai's office did not respond. Kula Fofana and Daniel Sando, the presidential press secretary and deputy minister of public affairs at the Ministry of Information, did not respond to direct calls and whatsapp inquiries. This article will be updated when they do.
Our team reviewed live video stream coverage from LNTV of the official Flag Day celebrations, and none of the officials mentioned in the original claim were visible in the footage. please also find addition coverage here, here, here, and here.
Conclusion: Based on official responses from two of the mentioned officials and our review of live video coverage from LNTV, the claim that President Boakai, Vice President Koung, House Speaker Koon, and Senate Pro-Tempore Karnga-Lawrence were absent from National Flag Day celebrations is true.
