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ADNews-Monrovia, Liberia: The All Retired Citizens Association of Liberia (ARCAL) has inducted its first-ever Board of Trustees since its establishment to strengthen its operations and accountability.
The induction ceremony took place on Saturday, August 23, 2025, at St. Phillip’s Ecumenical High School, located along the Japan Freeway in Monrovia.
Leading the newly installed board is Bishop Nimley J. Donyen of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia, Philanthropic, who will serve as Chairman of the Advisory Board of Trustees. Joining him are renowned human rights lawyer Cllr. Taiwan Saye Gongloe as Legal Counsellor, Nobel Laureate Madam Leymah Gbowee as First Vice Chair, and a representative from the Association of Female Lawyers of Liberia (AFELL) as Second Vice Chair.
ARCAL is a home of all Retirees with their current membership of 65 thousands across the country aims at advocating for and protecting All Retired Citizens in Liberia for their benefits, negotiate with national Government and international Organizations for decent and affordable medical benefit for all Retires, lobby with national and international organization to provide Opportunities for members, work with the agencies responsible for All Retired Citizens for a better welfare, work with ministry of finance civil service agency and NASSCORP for members to receive their retirement benefit and on time, represent ARCAL interest at high level discussion and to demand all the benefit of the pensioners according to the act creating the national social security and welfare corporation.
Speaking at the program, Rev. Kafa B. Teah, ARCAL National Chairman, urged the Advisory Board of ARCAL for timely and possible intervention between President Joseph Boakai’s office and ARCAL for a Round Table Conference and the way forward to address their concerns, saying they have suffered for too long under bad government policy in seeking their interest.
“If we must live in peace and harmony, then we must learn to treat people right, which is the fundamental key to creating effective leadership under the doctrine of human dignity. Treating people right involves our national leaders in developing ways to treat their citizens so that they are motivated and satisfied.
“Let it be understood that when people are treated right, the potential for such conflict is greatly reduced. Fellow citizens we the membership of All Retired Citizens Association of Liberia, are not satisfied because no attention by our national government over our plights but to denies us our full and equal retirement benefits least to mention salary increment especially in these times of our national economic space government is not willing to give us attention because we are of no value any more to be treated as human after we have worked out of loyalty for country.
“Today our right for decent living has been downplayed by our national government, ARCAL National Chairman asserted.
Despite the challenges, Chairman Teah reaffirmed the association’s commitment to peacebuilding and national development. He encouraged members to remain law-abiding and continue advocating for their rights through legal and constructive means.
In his acceptance speech, Bishop Donyen expressed his gratitude and pledged his unwavering commitment to restoring the dignity of retirees. He also donated $3,000 USD to ARCAL to help secure office space for the association’s operations and promised further support to help realise the group’s vision.
“I appeal to people of goodwill in order to help the needy. I am only a medium. I make requests on behalf of the needy. I receive and deliver what I receive.
“In June 2025, the Archbishop of the African-American Catholic Congregation, Imani Temple #49, an Independent Catholic Church in the USA, founded by His Holiness George Augustus Stallings, a former Roman Catholic priest of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Washington DC, visited the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia. During his visit, Archbishop John Wayne Milton (LLD DD) attended the National Convocation of the All Retirees Citizens Association of Liberia (ARCAL).
“His Grace Archbishop John Wayne Milton (LLD DD) sent US$3,000.00 to me for ARCAL to secure its National Office. In the presence of the National Executives and Members of ARCAL, I am pleased to present the US$3,000.00 to you, Mr Chairman of ARCAL. May this amount be used for its intended purpose. May God bless Archbishop Milton for his generosity, Bishop Donyen emphasized.
Bishop Donyen praised the selection of his fellow board members, calling them “the right people to lead humanitarian efforts.” He highlighted Cllr. Gongloe’s long-standing reputation as a human rights advocate, dating back to their university days, and expressed confidence that the board’s leadership would bring meaningful change to the lives of retirees.
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