MSN In a powerful moment of national remembrance and literary pride, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf joined government officials, survivors, and dignitaries at the National Museum to launch “Stepping Up to the Plate: Liberia’s Untold Ebola Story,” a gripping new book by former Foreign Minister Olubanke King Akerele. The book chronicles the human spirit and nationwide coordination that defined Liberia’s response to the deadly 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak, offering a first-hand account of sacrifice, leadership, and collective resolve.
Recounting the chilling early days of the crisis, former President Sirleaf reflected: “In 2014, I got a call that some Liberians had crossed into Upper Lofa from Guinea showing strange symptoms. We didn’t know what it was… We had never experienced an infectious disease of such intensity.”
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She recalled the government’s initial border lockdowns and restrictions on movement, which, while well-intentioned, led to tragic incidents, including the death of a civilian in New Kru Town. Despite these setbacks, she praised the surge of unity that followed.