MONROVIA — Young Grand Gedean social reform advocate Watson Chelley is calling on former Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas (GGAA) President Fred Gwyan to reconcile with the association and end efforts that he says are fueling division within the diaspora-based group.
Gwyan was impeached from his post on Jan. 4, 2017, following allegations that he misappropriated and embezzled more than $36,000 from the GGAA. He was later asked to restitute the funds. Following his removal, Gwyan reportedly established a breakaway organization — a move many see as undermining the association’s longstanding mission of unity and service.
Upon taking office, current GGAA President Edith Poah extended an olive branch, dropping all charges against Gwyan in a bid to foster reconciliation and prevent fragmentation.
Despite her efforts, Gwyan has reportedly continued pushing for a parallel structure, drawing concern from members of the Grand Gedeh community both in Liberia and abroad.
Speaking over the weekend, Chelley called on Gwyan to reconsider.
“President Poah has shown real leadership and forgiveness,” Chelley said. “Now it’s time for Mr. Gwyan to do the same and return to the GGAA for the sake of our unity. A divided association cannot support our county effectively.”
Mission of the GGAA at Stake
The Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, founded in 1975 in Brooklyn, New York, is a nonprofit organization composed of Liberians from Grand Gedeh County. Its headquarters are now in Philadelphia, with 19 active chapters across the United States.
The GGAA’s mission is to improve the lives of Grand Gedeans through healthcare, education and agriculture. Its vision is for Grand Gedeh to serve as a model of how collective diaspora efforts can uplift local communities.
Chelley said Gwyan’s continued maneuvering is more than a political distraction — it’s a threat to the county’s long-term development.
“If the association remains split, the usual support to the county will collapse,” he warned. “But united, the GGAA can achieve far more than ever before.”
A Plea for Peace
Chelley said his comments were not meant to take sides but to promote dialogue, peace and the broader interest of Grand Gedeh County.
“Grand Gedeh is bigger than any one person or group,” he said. “We must rise above our differences and come together. The future of our county depends on it.”
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