GBARNGA, Bong County - Renowned Kpelleh gospel musician and Chief Executive Officer of the Dekeiyaiyah Foundation, Mr. Lawrence Anniway, today donated 100 reflective jackets to motorcyclists across Gbarnga in a move aimed at enhancing road safety and protecting lives.
The donation ceremony was held at the iconic David Kuyon Sports Stadium in Gbarnga, where hundreds of motorcyclists, sports stakeholders, and community members gathered to witness the event.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Anniway emphasized that the reflective jackets are intended to help protect motorcyclists and other road users by making riders more visible, particularly during nighttime operations when visibility is poor and accidents are more common.
According to him, road accidents involving motorcyclists have become increasingly frequent in Bong County and across Liberia, often due to poor visibility at night, lack of protective gear, and inadequate safety awareness.
He explained that reflective jackets are a simple but highly effective safety intervention, as they reflect light from vehicle headlights and streetlights, making riders easily noticeable from a distance and thereby reducing the risk of collisions.
Mr. Anniway disclosed that his decision to intervene was driven by personal experience, noting that he himself was once a commercial motorcyclist in Gbarnga before rising to prominence as a gospel musician and philanthropist.
Having been a motorcyclist himself, he said he deeply understands the daily challenges faced by riders, including exposure to rain and sun, long working hours, harassment on the road, high fuel costs, and the constant risk of accidents.
He said he considers it important to always identify with motorcyclists in the county and to remember where he came from, adding that his success should be used to uplift those who are still in the struggle.
"This is my way of giving back to the community that raised me. I was once where you are, I know the pain, I know the risk, and I want you to be safe for your family," Anniway told the cheering crowd of motorcyclists.
In addition to the donation to motorcyclists, the Dekeiyaiyah Foundation CEO also extended support to sports development in the county through a donation of several sporting materials to the Bong County Sports Steering Committee through its Basketball Division.
The items donated included professional stopwatches, whistles, cones for drills, training bibs, and other essential sporting equipment that will aid in the training and development of young basketball talents in Bong County.
He said sports, like music, is a powerful tool for youth empowerment and unity, and he remains committed to supporting all disciplines that keep young people positively engaged and away from drugs and crime.
Mr. Anniway used the occasion to appreciate his followers, fans, and supporters both at home and in the diaspora for believing in and supporting his initiatives and undertakings in Bong County and Liberia at large.
He noted that without the support of his followers who stream his Kpelleh gospel songs and support the Dekeiyaiyah Foundation, such interventions would not be possible, and he pledged to continue more humanitarian gestures in the coming months.
For their part, the beneficiaries expressed profound appreciation to the Dekeiyaiyah Foundation for what they described as a timely and farsighted intervention that directly addresses their safety and welfare.
The leadership of the motorcyclists in Gbarnga said the reflective jackets came at a time when night accidents are on the rise, and they promised to ensure that every jacket is used for its intended purpose.
Similarly, the Bong County Sports Steering Committee, through its Basketball Division, lauded Mr. Anniway for his continued support to sports development in the county, describing him as a true son of Bong who has not forgotten his roots.
They pledged to use the donated sporting materials judiciously to train young athletes and to improve the standard of basketball in Bong County ahead of the National County Sports Meet.
The event ended with joy and celebration, as motorcyclists paraded in their new reflective jackets around the stadium, while basketball players showcased some of the newly donated equipment.