By Alfred Kollie
MONROVIA, Liberia — The Chargé d’Affaires of the United States Embassy near Monrovia, Mr. Joseph E. Zadrozny, has emphasized the critical need for Liberia to safeguard its historical heritage and national records to ensure they are accessible to citizens and the global community.
Zadrozny highlighted that understanding and preserving Liberia’s history is essential for every county and community across the country, noting that its rich historical record must be systematically documented and protected for future generations.
He made these remarks during a courtesy visit to the Center for National Documents and Records Agency, commonly known as the National Archives. During his visit, the US diplomat commended the institution’s leadership and staff for their ongoing efforts to maintain the nation’s historical records.
Zadrozny encouraged Director General D. Nelson Bearngar and his team to remain steadfast in their mission to protect Liberia’s public records.
As part of the visit, Zadrozny completed a guided tour across several key facilities within the National Archives, including the Repository, Digital Scanning Center, Information Technology Section, Public Records Section, Archival Units, Projects and Planning Division, Marriage Records Section, and the Mini Exhibition Hall. Following the tour, the US diplomat expressed satisfaction with the agency’s operations and signaled his intention to return for future engagements.
Director General Bearngar noted that the visit was initiated at the request of the US Chargé d’Affaires to strengthen strategic partnership and institutional cooperation between the US Embassy and the National Archives. Bearngar welcomed the engagement and reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to supporting the government’s national development agenda.
In a related statement, the National Archives chief advised Liberians seeking marriage certificates to strictly follow official administrative channels to prevent complications or delays, particularly when submitting legal documents for processing at the US Embassy.
Bearngar also outlined the primary operational challenges facing the National Archives, citing the ongoing need for complete digitization, geographic decentralization across counties, and persistent logistical constraints. He affirmed that the agency will continue working to resolve these issues while ensuring public access to Liberia’s foundational records.