Each year since 1883, Liberian presidents past and present have issued proclamations declaring the Second Friday of April of each year as Fast and Prayer Day, a National Holiday. The date which falls on a Friday this year, coincides with a planned demonstration organizers hope will draw the world’s attention to what they say are a series of issues including nepotism, corruption that are among the many ills plaguing the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf-led government. Two civil society group’s, Campaigners for Change and the Coalition for the Transformation of Liberia plan to stage a protest march in Monrovia on April 12, in their bid to see a change in the state’s governance system. But historians say organizers may have miscalculated and were perhaps unaware that the day falls on a holiday this year making it highly unlikely that the demonstration may not get the desired impact, organizers hope to achieve.
