OPINION: Political Dispensation, a New Trend in Liberia

Mr. Morris Kromah

In recent time, I have observed that political dispensation from the public is a new trend in Liberia. Few months ago, the government signed an agreement with a Chinese company to construct a ministerial complex that will house about 11 to 15 ministries around the Peace Island community. Interestingly, the government came under severe criticism by Rep. Julius Berring and other law makers as well as paid agents for attempting to relocate the squatters that are currently occupying the area.

Whether their advocacy was based on putting the country first or protecting their votes for future election that is up to whoever interpreting their intention. As such, a new location outside of Monrovia was identified.

Few months ago, Finance Minister Amara Konneh dismissed some employees of the finance ministry for corrupt practices. During the process, Minister Konneh showed several evidences to prove that the staffs affected had broken the public trust; as such, they had to be dismissed. Immediately following Min. Konneh move, a group of Liberians and some employees of Finance Ministry decided to publicly call on the immediate dismissal of Min. Konneh. They also threatened to go slow at the ministry if the co-workers were not recalled. They called radio shows and wrote newspaper articles in protest of Min. Konneh’s decision.

Recently, the new GAC director Robert Kilby initiated a process to clean house. In his intention to balance GAC by providing equal opportunity to all, retain qualified staff and provide a managerial balance all at the same time, he commenced an all staff evaluation. In the process, some staff got dismissed because they were unqualified or because they did not meet the standards set at the GAC. Once again, a group of Liberians has organized themselves to call for the immediate dismissal of Hon. Kilby.

They believed these staffs got dismissed because he is targeting vulnerable staff at the GAC. In addition, they’re threatening also to go slow or demonstrate against Hon. Kilby’s decision. Now, is this kind of Liberia we want for our country? How can we govern amidst these kinds of unruly and categorically belligerent attitude? Why do we hold public officials responsible for not doing anything to change our country when in fact we’re equally proponents of those failures? Why are we refusing to be the change we want to see in Mama Liberia?