GBARNGA, Bong County – Citizens of the Liberian central region county of Bong, have conferred upon Liberia’s Vice President Chief, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor the county’s most esteemed traditional title, “PONOFALO.”
Liberia’s Chief Dahkpanah, Moses Suakollie, says “PONOFALO” is the highest title in the traditional practices of the country’s most popular tribal group, the Kpelles.
This brings to two, such title of higher traditional honor that has been bestowed upon VP Howard-Taylor by the people of Bong County, the first being the most venerated chieftaincy title of “Chief Suakoko,” last year.
The title was conferred on VP Howard-Taylor at an elaborate program held on Thursday January 24, 2019 in Gbarnga City, Bong County, in continuation of her 56th birth anniversary celebration.
Veep Howard-Taylor was born on January 17, 1963, onto the union of Mr. Moses Y. Howard and Mrs. Nora Giddings-Howard.
She is the great granddaughter of a king of the Kpelle tribe, King Kerkula Giddings of Sanoyea District, in Bong County.
Conferring the traditional title upon Vice President Howard-Taylor, Chief Suakollie said, the people of Bong County chose Liberia’s first female Vice President because of her numerous contributions to the development of the county as well as the Kpelle tradition.
Some of the Veep’s contributions according to the Chief Dakpanah of Liberia, include the provision of scholarships to youths of Bong County, the construction of schools, health facilities, bridges and her support to the advancement of traditional activities across the country.
Well attended by thousands of residents from length and breadth Bong County, the program also brought together several traditional leaders including many that trooped in from bordering towns with the Republic of Guinea, students, youth and women groups as well as county officials.
It can be recalled that in 2011, the distinct traditional title of Venerable Chief in the National Traditional Council of Liberia was also conferred upon VP Howard-Taylor, then Senator of Bong County.
The chieftaincy title to the first female Veep was conferred on Madam Howard-Taylor by chiefs and elders of Bong County for her role in sponsoring the bill which created the National Traditional Council of Liberia; and in full recognition of her exemplary services to the people of Bong in particular and Liberia in general.
