L-R: Mrs. Gbolo A. Howard, Vice President, Mrs. Josephine Dweh Kwaidah, Chairperson, Board of Directors, & Mr. Christopher P. Selekpoh, President of LAP
Philadelphia, PA – On Saturday, October 8, 2016, President Christopher P. Selekpoh and Chairperson of the Board of Directors, Mrs. Josephine Dweh Kwadah of the Liberian Association of Pennsylvania (LAP, Inc.,), led a delegation of permanent Liberians on a tour of a property in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to assess and ultimately decide, if that building should be acquired and used as a Multipurpose Community Center. The property is 14,000 square feet, ceiling 25 feet high and asking price $950,000.00 (Nine Hundred Fifty Thousand Dollars).
The delegation included; president of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) Hon. Wilmot Kunney, Rev. Dr. John Jallah, Rev. Dr. Moses Suah Dennis, Rev. John Gblah, Dr. Vera Tolbert; Senior Advisor to the Administration, Members of the Board of Directors Mr. Samuel Aboah and Jonathan William, Mr. Dee Wilson Barlee and Counselor Edwin Dennis.
Mr. Jackson Shum, agent for a New York based company and part owner of the property, took the president and delegation around and indicated that the building is structurally sound, no opened violations, no back taxes or legal issues on the property and there is nothing for the delegation to worry about, but urged the president to do his due diligence before making any offer to purchase the property. Mr. Shum told the delegation that the property has being on the market for about six months and close to 10 individuals and organizations had toured the property but no one has made any formal offer.
President Selekpoh thanked Mr. Shum but informed him that he looked the property up online when he was told about the building. According to him, the property was sold for around $500,000.00 and is a little puzzled that the property is back on the market and at much higher price. Dr. Vera Tolbert buttressed the president’s point and asked Mr. Shum for reasons for the dramatic increase in the price of the building. Mr. Shum neither denied nor confirmed the information but told the president and delegation that the price will be negotiated if the organization makes a formal offer by submitting the necessary paperwork which is promised to email to the administration. Hon. Selekpoh informed Mr. Shum that LAP is interested in the property and will submit a formal application as soon as the organization receives the paperwork from him. Counselor Edwin Dennis suggested to the president that the organization must first contact a realty, who will ask all of the right questions, advice before the administration goes ahead to purchase the building.
President Selekpoh and Board Chair Kwadah then thanked the delegation and said that the Liberian Community has to do everything it possibly can to purchase the property. President Selekpoh told the delegation that, if purchased, the building will be used as a multipurpose community center where there will be a 24/7 day care, after school program, job training and computer literacy program from basic, intermediary to advance, public speaking and debates workshops, conferences, receptions, and office space.
Every member of the delegation was impressed with the property and encouraged the president to begin reaching out to the community to see how to raise the money needed to buy the property. Hon. Kunney, who first informed LAP’s boss about this property, told the president that the Union is prepared to work with his administration to see how to design strategies and programs to raise the fund needed to purchase the property. President Selekpoh thanked Hon. Kunney and then went on to explain to the delegation that his administration will be convening a meeting with community leaders to discuss the way forward. President Selekpoh stressed that the property, if purchased, will be for every Liberian regardless of his or her tribal background, county of original or religious affiliation. Hon. Selekpoh indicated that he is certain that every Liberian will be delighted to contribute in a meaningful way to help his administration get the building.
The Liberian Community is one of the largest African immigrant communities in the state of Pennsylvania and members have continually urged, sometimes criticized LAP for not having a community center that Liberian Community can call its own. President Selekpoh has made a multipurpose community center the main goal of his administration.