Published: July 15, 2026
MONROVIA — Crusaders for Peace Convener Juli Endee has announced that all preparations have been completed for the 16th Golden Image Award, with President Joseph Nyuma Boakai Sr. expected to serve as convener and Vice President Jeremiah Kpan Koung delivering the keynote address at this year’s national honors ceremony on July 21 at the Ministerial Complex.
Speaking Tuesday at the Ministry of Information’s regular press briefing, Endee said the annual event will celebrate outstanding individuals, institutions and countries that have made significant contributions to peace, development, humanitarian service, arts, education and nation-building.
Established in 2010 by Liberia’s Cultural Ambassador, Queen Juli Endee, and the Liberia Crusaders for Peace, the Golden Image Award has become Liberia’s premier national recognition program, often described as the country’s equivalent of the Oscars.
Endee said this year’s ceremony marks the award’s 16th anniversary and paid tribute to the late Mona Pelham Youngblood, describing her as a key supporter during the initiative’s formative years.
She recalled that the idea for the awards was born after she attended the Cora Awards in South Africa alongside Youngblood more than a decade ago.
“I told Mona that I would not keep traveling to South Africa for awards. People would one day travel to Liberia to receive awards. She asked me how I was going to do it, and I told her to watch me,” Endee recalled.
She explained that the Golden Image Award became an officially recognized national event after Crusaders for Peace submitted a proposal to former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who later endorsed the initiative.
According to Endee, this year’s ceremony will feature President Boakai as Convener, with Vice President Koung serving as keynote speaker. Other expected dignitaries include the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, the Dean of the Cabinet and the Minister of State for Presidential Affairs.
“The Liberia Tourism Authority, headed by Hon. Princess Cooper, will serve as our Guest of Honor,” she said.
For the first time, the ceremony will be held at the Ministerial Complex instead of Monrovia City Hall.
“This year’s event will take place on July 21 at the Ministerial Complex. We have moved the venue from Monrovia City Hall to the Ministerial Complex. The awards presentation will be held in the theater, while the gala ball will take place in the ballroom, with separate seating arrangements for VVIPs and VIPs,” Endee said.
She also acknowledged technical support from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of State, General Services Agency, Ministry of Information, Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Monrovia City Corporation, National Public Health Institute of Liberia and the Liberia Tourism Authority.
Endee thanked the Liberia Telecommunications Authority and NASCO for fulfilling their sponsorship commitments and urged other sponsors to honor their pledges before the event.
The Crusaders for Peace convener announced that five international award institutions—including the Hollywood Awards, African Intercontinental Awards, Aqua Life Awards, Women of Worth Awards Africa and the United Liberian Association of the Americas—will participate and present special recognitions during the celebration.
She encouraged the public to begin submitting nominations for next year’s awards once the nomination process opens in October.
“Nominations for the Golden Image Award open every October. As you leave here today, I encourage everyone to begin submitting the names and profiles of deserving individuals. After nominations close, all submissions go through a vetting process before the final awardees are selected,” she said.
Reflecting on the award’s legacy, Endee noted that previous recipients have included global figures such as Nelson Mandela, Jerry John Rawlings, Olusegun Obasanjo, Morocco’s foreign minister and several distinguished Liberians, including the late Cllr. Charles Walker Brumskine.
She said this year’s event is expected to attract guests from North America, South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia, with delegations from countries including the United States, Japan, the United Kingdom, Nigeria, Ghana, Guinea, The Gambia, Sierra Leone, Vietnam, Serbia, the United Arab Emirates, Barbados and Grenada.
Endee added that Women Voices Newspaper will serve as the official newspaper of the 2026 Golden Image Award, while several media partners will provide nationwide coverage of the event.
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