Why Liberian Refugees refused integration into Ghanaian Society

By: Semantics King Jr., Minneapolis

Ghanaians have always made the world or at least Africans to believe that the proverbial Ghanaian “Akwaba” is genuine and obviously observable when people from other countries are living or temporarily resident on Ghanaian soil.
And there is no doubt about how they sing praises with how hospitable, friendly and accommodating Ghanaians are. They pride themselves as being true Africans.
There was no wonder then, when victims of Liberia’s civil war decided to seek refuge in this hospitable African country in the early ‘90s.
When the first batch of 25 Liberian refugees arrived in Ghana in 1990, Ghanaians under the able leadership of Ghana’s president, Jerry John Rawlings who also later became the chairman of the regional body of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), openly accepted the Liberians.
Though this writer was not a member of that first group of refugees, he spoke to some surviving members of that group of people and found that Ghanaians even offered the refugees their personal homes to live in, gave them food to eat and even helped some to attend school in Ghana at the expense of some Ghanaian hosts.
In fact, when some Liberians were stranded on sea in 1996 onboard the Bulk Challenge Ship during Liberia’s shortest but fiercest war in central Monrovia, other west African countries refused to allow the ship land with the huge number of suffering and hungry Liberian refugees on their soil but Ghana did.
And there may be several other stories never heard of on how some Ghanaians assisted their Liberian African neighbors (it’s only Ivory Coast that is between Ghana and Liberia in terms of geographic locations and English is spoken in Ghana as in Liberia unlike Ivory Coast).
Therefore someone reading this might say wow that was great help given Liberians in Ghana. So getting adjusted or (as the UN refugee agency calls it) integrated into Ghanaian society should not be a problem for any Liberian refugee in Ghana.
Oh sure enough if you consider the above accounts which have been made public by many Ghanaians and even some Liberians.
But there is the other side of the coin. That side is always hidden and perhaps a secret that nobody dares talk about. No.
This writer,then himself a refugee but a relatively dispassionate journalist who lived and worked in Ghana from 2000 to 2006, knows all too well events that happened in the Liberian refugee camp and even those in Ghanaian communities because he traveled across all regions of Ghana and worked with a few Ghanaian dailies in Accra.
In May 2000, there was a serious scuffle between the Liberian refugees in Buduburam and the Ghanaian police force. During that time, live bullets were fired at Liberian refugees and when arguably Ghana’s best radio station Joy F.M reported about how Ghanaian police over-reacted to the refugee situation in the camp, it broadcast vividly describing the situation on air and it’s reporter that saw the incident said that was inhumane.
Unfortunately, however, that particular news item was withdrawn during the subsequent newscast on Joy F.M. leaving many discerning listeners to wonder what was happening to Joy since it has a custom of repeating news items regularly but not this one.
The incident involving the police and the refugees that day arose when refugees had captured a Ghanaian who was using long-pointed iron(used in Africa to kill frogs at night) to harm and eventually kill the refuges at night.
Due to the heat in Ghana coupled with the fact that most of the houses that refugees lived in were built with mud, living or sleeping in them at night can be a real oven. Therefore, the refugees used to leave their windows opened at night to catch the mid-night cozy breeze that would put them to sleep.
It was during this time that a Ghanaian was arrested harming another Liberian refugee family at night and turned over to the Camp Police.
Unfortunately, however, the police refused to prosecute the Ghanaian as he was released without any explanation from the Ghanaian authority in the refugee camp, so the refugees were clamoring for justice to be meted against him. But the police refused and the refugees said they wouldn’t leave the camp police station. Reinforcement was called from the nearby Military based and began firing directly at the refugees. Many were wounded severely.
Between 2001 and 2002, several children were reported missing and up to now there are no reports indicating they have been found at all.
On February 23, 2003 Ghana police forcefully rounded all men age 15 up on the soccer patch after one of Ghana’s newspapers, The Chronicles reported that Buduburam was a training base for fighters in the war in Ivory Coast. No weapons were found among the refugees. They were however, threatened by Ghana’s military commander, Brigadier General Danquah.
During that early morning raid, police and sniffer dogs including war helicopter were used to round up the men. The men remained in the scorching sun from 4am till 6pm Ghana time. Nobody condemn Ghana for violating the rights of refugees.
Before releasing the refugee men, security forces subjected them to insults, and branded them as criminals, rebels, and armed robbers, prostitutes and drug-traffickers.
In order instances, refugees have been arrested unjustly and incarcerated in prisons without due process of law. Reports from families indicate that some of the refugees were taken away by Ghana police and have never been seen since.
In Oct 2005 James Miller, a young and brilliant Liberian man was murdered in Awutu, a village near the refugee camp and his body parts cut into pieces like market meat. His killers are still at large.
Prior to that gruesome murder, several Liberian kids were found dead in the refugee camp with some of their body parts taken away by their killers for ritualistic reasons
In March 2006, a beautiful Liberian refugee woman, Joyce Wilson was killed in a hotel in Accra and her killers are still at large even today.
Although the camp Manager Cal Afun who is a Ghanaian said in a mass camp residents meeting at the Refuge Baptist Church that “nobody had the right to kill her”, Ghana police investigations continue without establishing the killers.
As if Joyce’s murder was not enough, another Liberian refugee woman, 30-year-old Amelia Gymulnee-Whitersoon was allegedly stabbed and burned to death on June 8,2006 at 10pm Ghanaian time in the refugee camp.
In April 2006,a 48-year-old Ghanaian man, Kojo Antwi allegedly raped a nine-year-old Liberian refugee girl while she was returning home from school in the camp. The case is still pending in Ghana as we speak.
Then in July, just before this writer left the refugee camp for the United States on July 26,2006,another Liberian refugee woman, Linda Johnson was nearly killed in Accra by some Ghanaian men had it not been God’s grace. Today, the attempted killers are moving about freely in the land of Gold.
The chairman of the Liberian Refugee Welfare Council, Varney Sambola asked as rhetorical question during one of the camp residents’ meetings, and I wish to reecho the same question, “when will enough be enough?” Where are the authorities both UNHCR and Ghana? When will the investigations end and the culprits brought to justice? When will violence against Liberian refugee women be as unacceptable as all other forms of violence?
I ask each one of you reading this article to just take a moment and think about the hardships that Liberian refugees in general but Liberian refugee women in Ghana in particular face with the passing of each day?
Do you think any Liberian refugee in Ghana experiencing such abuses will be willing and able to integrate in Ghanaian society?
Liberian refugees who were accepted to further their education at the University of Ghana, Legon are asked to pay their tuitions in foreign fees (almost $27,000united States dollars) while their Ghanaian counter-parts pay in Ghanaian cedis (less than a million cedis per semester or so). Is that a sign of integration for Liberian refugees?
In June 2007, the Nigerian government asked Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean refugees who refused to return home to integrate in Nigerian society and the refugees accepted. Why? Because refugees from those countries had been enormously helped by the Nigerian people, Nigerian churches and even Nigerian government.
Those refugees attending Nigerian Universities pay their tuition in Naira and not United States dollars as in Ghana just the same amounts that Nigerian nationals are paying for higher education. Many Liberian refugees and Sierra Leonean refugees are offered well-paying jobs in Nigeria.
We have not heard of reports about how Liberian refugees in Nigeria are being killed by unknown men or people despite the fact that Nigeria has a very high crimes rate.
When the women refugees were demonstrating for increment to $1,000 in their repatriation package or they be resettled to third countries of asylum, a request that was directed at the UNHCR and not the government and people of Ghana, these were reactions from some Ghanaians all over the world.
“I think it’s time for the government of Ghana to send these guys out without any regards to international laws,” writes Prince, a Ghanaian in the United States.
“Stupid fools, western countries indeed. I don’t think Ghanaians can do this in any country, look at Libya even Gambia doing to our people over there. God bless Ghana.”
Another Ghanaian, Steve Acquah wrote on MyJoyOnline “these guys are crazy. They (Ghana government) have to throw them back to Liberia. Who told them to fight and become refugees? Ahhhh, in the first place, they (refugees) have not contributed in anyway to help in the development of our great country. They must be kicked out. Look at the way other African countries treat us when we are there….”
Ablorh Adjei, another Ghanaian wrote: “I think it’s time we tell the Liberians at Buduburam to go home and help rebuild their country rather than encourage them to stay in Ghana doing nothing”, he said online.
“We have had enough of them and their actions. They must go before they turn around and tell us in December that they are being prevented from voting in the presidential and Parliamentary elections.”
Another Ghanaian, only identified as Baby, reacting to a comment made by another said “you are very funny to say the kind of trash you are rattling about. What freedom of speech gives these ingrates the rights to demand and complain so badly? I surely presume you are a Liberian yourself because no right thinking Ghanaian would bring out such thrash” Baby said.
“Let these people go back to Liberia and help Johnson Sirleaf and co rebuild the country Charles Taylor destroyed, after all what other benefits other than chasing our married men, prostitution, and armed robbery we are getting from them. If you want to settle to Europe, first visit your equally peace hating Iraq and proceed from there. God is watching all you Liberians who seem ungrateful after all we have done for you, your rewards await you Western world indeed you chaotic lots. Please send these people back to Monrovia before they petition the UN of our devoiding them of their rights to vote as Liberian born Ghanaians.”
Another Ghanaian claiming to be writing from the United Kingdom who only identified himself as Asempa wrote, “These Liberians are first class ingrates. The government should dispose of them from Sikaman Ghana as rubbish with immediate effect otherwise, I will also mobilize some people from Kasoa, Weija and Buduburam camp area for counter demonstration against these ungrateful idiots,” he said.
“Can any of these idiots justify their demands? What had been their contribution to the local economy apart from prostitution and armed robbery? Liberia is safe now so they should go away as soon as possible.”
These are the people among whom UNHCR or the government of Ghana expect Liberian refugees to live. Is that not clear sign that integration for Liberian refugees in Ghanaian society would be even more disastrous than what is unfolding now?
Many Liberian refugees have been killed by cars while walking to the roadside to search for water. Records I met in Ghana indicate that for the last 10 years, Liberian refugees were deprived of pipe-borne water.
As a result, many risked their lives in search of water from boreholes, streams and other unhygienic sources.
Regarding shelter, refugees have built their own structures using their own means and money sent to them by relatives and friends from abroad over the last 18 years.
Many refugees are forced to pay taxes on their own homes by greedy Landowners and chiefs.
Though UNHCR has its name and banners over the camp with inscriptions such as “all UNHCR services are free”, refugees continue to pay for healthcare at the clinic and for shelter.
Many refugees who cannot afford the almost $50 charged them resort to over-the-counter treatment which often leads to health complications and fatalities.
On sanitation, although there are many latrines in the camp, each refugee wanting to attend to nature needs to pay 100 cedis, which is costly for many who can’t afford because they also need to look and pay for water and food.
Consequently, many refugees are victims of threats and attacks in the bushes and what is also called the “Gulf”(open space where they go to attend nature which is free) but requires distant walking and it’s risky.
Latrines and bathrooms were meant to be managed by refugees they(refugees), however, they have been taken over by Ghanaians, thereby limiting the potential employment of many refugees in the camp.
Education is a basic right to all refugee children in primary schools under domestic law. Not only have primary students been paying school fees, they have also been exempted from school feeding programs provided to all primary students in Ghana.
Due to lack of income from refugee parents, hundreds of children are unable to acquire basic education in the refugee camp.
Most alarming however, is the blatant lack of capacity building measures by UNHCR and the Christian Council of Ghana (a government agency responsible for refugee education).
Their programs supposed to equip refugees with skills needed for self-reliance and economic development. However, the limited training programs in the refugee camp lack resources, materials and internship programs.
Readers, how can Ghanaians expect the refugees to integrate into their society when very little has been done to offer them employment and skill development? When Ghanaians only pretend to like people or Liberians through their lips and not from their hearts?
What has happened to the so-called free enterprise market system that Ghana so proudly boasts about?
When refugee women who are forced to become the bread-winners of their various families in the camp are kicked out of their own Buduburam market by Ghanaian women, who claim “this is my country, get the hell out”, how is s refugee woman to make a living and support her family?
Although Ghana appears to be a stable and peaceful country in West Africa, the same cannot be said for the life of Liberian refugees in the camp. Because of the last 10 years, as already mentioned, refugees have been direct victims of serious attacks by unknown persons since 2000 when UNHCR withdrew all support for Liberian refugees in Ghana.
When Liberian refugees are continuing to experience abuse, intimidation and murder from many Ghanaians, does this not clearly indicate the xenophobia of Ghanaians to accept the Liberian refugees into their society?
Is it not apparent to you readers and the government of Ghana that these events make it obvious that Ghanaians are unwilling to co-exist with the Liberian refugees in the so-called integration process?
All forms of violence breach the very fundamental human rights covenants enshrined in the convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW).
Liberian refugees in Buduburam, Ghana have the right to equal protection under the law. Why are they not being protected? Anyone abusing others’ rights is acting against the law. Therefore I called on the authorities of the Western World and International Organizations to ensure that the law is respected because women’s and refugees’ rights are human rights.

More arrest and deportation at Buduburam refugee camp in Ghana

By Semantics King Jr.,Minnespolis Ghana’s Police force at about 3am Ghanaian time today began arresting Liberian refugee men including those with the joint Government of Ghana and UNHCR issued identification cards. Reports say those without I.D.cards will be send back to Liberia in a day or two since they are not refugees. Ghana’s deputy foreign Minister, Frank Agyekum told Ghanaians that the 35 Liberian men arrested this morning are not refugees but are a part of agroup formenting trouble.He said they will be repatriated to Liberia. But according to an eye witness,(his name is withheld for some security reasons) who spoke to NewLiberian.com from his hiding place through his cellphone, though it ’s still unclear what prompted the renewed arrests,he thinks Ghana is arresting and contemplating forcefully repatriating the refugees because of what some Ghanaians called Liberians ungratefulness. Our Source said Ghana Police began going from house to house to effect the arrests as there is no authority in the camp as he spoke to us.He said Police even went to the St.Gregory Catholic Clinic in the refugee camp run by UNHCR and arrested some patients who were on critical medical list that needed urgent medical attention . Our Source said the men arrested this morning were taken to Burma Camp near the capital, Accra. Meanwhile a 54-year old Liberian refugee woman was also arrested this morning while on her way to Accra. Her son, Issac Fahnbulleh who spoke to NewLiberian.com from his cell phone said his mother; Sonne Kaba was arrested when she went to pick up the Liberian flag that Ghanaian Police had thrown on the ground. He said while his mother was walking on the road, she saw Ghanaian Police pull down the Liberian flag and began to tear it into pieces. She rushed to save her country’s flag from being destroyed but Ghana Police advised her not to touch it. She refused and she was arrested. There are three flags flown at the offices of the Liberian Refugee Welfare Council in the refugee camp. A Ghanaian, UNHCR and Liberian flags. Of the three, Isaac said, only the Liberian flag was pull down. Almost a month ago, a group of Liberian refugee women began protesting a UNHCR repatiation package which they said was not enough to allow them rebuild their lives and begin Life anew in Liberia. They asked the UNHCR to provide each of them with $1000USD or they should be resettled to third countries of asylum. They refused to be integrated into Ghanaian society because Ghanaians don’t like them. Two pregnant women among a number of Liberian refugees seized by Ghanaian security agents are reported to have had miscarriages at the Kodeabe Youth Camp in the Eastern Region where they are being held. Two others have suffered scorpion bites, and according to Nana Oye Lithur of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, conditions are simply appalling for the refugees. Another woman who had diarrhea was only saved by the intervention of a human rights activist who called the commander of the security unit for her to get medical attention.About 600 demonstrating refugees were on Monday arrested at their Gomoa Buduburam Camp and carted to Kodeabe by security forces after they spurned Interior Ministry warnings to cease the demonstrations because they contravened the Public Order Act. Nana Oye Lithur of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, who spoke in Accra on Thursday March 21, 2008, said the government itself was violating the Constitution by holding the refugees beyond the legally permissible period of 24 hours for arrests and detentions.She said since their arrest, the refugees are yet to be charged before any court, arguing that even if their case was a special one, it still remained the prerogative of the courts to decide their fate, and not even the President, let alone the Interior Minister. The Human rights activist said “not even the President of the Republic of Ghana can go against the Constitution, nobody and more so a Minister of Interior. That is why we have the courts to ensure that the powers of Government are balanced with the individual rights and these Constitutional provisions are entrenched in our Constitution and it is for these very reasons that we have them entrenched and that is why the Minister of the Interior should take the matter to court for the courts to decide. And he has to inform the courts why he is still holding them beyond the 48 hours rule. We are not talking about whether they are refugees or not, we are talking about the fact that he is violating the Constitution and detaining people in custody beyond 48 hours and their conditions are not good enough, they are deplorable if you ask me. They are deplorable from what I saw today and that is not right,” Nana Oye said”.She added that tents housing the refugees had no underlay and it exposed them to a lot of danger.Nana Oye Lithur said even if the government intended to deport the refugees, there were procedures that did not allow the abuse of the rights of the refugees. She therefore urged the Interior Ministry to respect the Constitution and go to court if it intended to press charges since their current state left their lives in danger. Refugees claimed they have lived in Ghana for the past 18 years, yet Ghana was not able to feed them, send them to school or even provide basic human services to them. Therefore, they believe integration into Ghanaian society would be a hard fight for them. Reports just reaching NewLiberian.com indicate that 30 Liberians have been repatriated to Monrovia and would arrive there between 5:30pm and 6pm Liberian time. Of the 30,21 are men while nine are women. Liberia’s Foreign Ministry has confirmed that 30 of its citizens would be arriving in the country today. Please keep your explorer on NewLiberian.com as we will bring you all the latest news as it happens in the Liberian refugee camp in Ghana. Sam K.Zinnah from Deleware also helped to compile this report

More than 600 Liberian refugees kidnapped in Ghana

Report emanating from the Volta region (in Ghana) reveals that over six hundred Liberian refugees women “including children” are currently held on an abandoned training camp situated in the Volta region of Ghana. According to one of the refugees “currently with the group in the Volta region”, situation is getting worse especially with the children who are not used to sleeping outside in opens. The refugee (whose name is withheld for security reason) described their situation as “humiliating and dehumanized”. She explained that they were kidnapped/adopted by the Ghanaian army on the morning of March 17, 2008 and driven to an unknown destination. When asked what was the reason given for their adoption? She said the Ghanaian military’s reason given them was that they “the refugees” blocked an ECOWAS road that passes near the Buduburam refugee camp. “We were not even close to the road, we have been peacefully protesting for increase in our repatriation package from the UNHCR. Our peaceful protest has been a sit in action that has been taking place on a soccer field on the refugee. What brought in the Ghanaian Army remains the million dollars un-answer question”. Those were the exact words of the refugee who claimed she was in bed in the open field of the abandon training camp in the Volta region where they are currently held hostage. She said some high ranking officials of UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee Board, and other Human right activists visited the training camp March 18, 2008. During their visit “according to the narrator”, the UNHCR advised them not to accept any offer from their hostage takers or kidnappers while negotiations are underway to secure the release of the refugees but what happens to them next remains un answer. In a telephone interview at about 7:41 PM Delaware State local time or 11:41 PM Ghanaian time, the refugee “ who sounded very frustrated, went into retrospect and began narrating stories dating back from 1996 when Ghanaian Navy shot at Liberia refugees aboard the famous leaking Nigerian Vessel “M/V Bulk Challenge”.
According to the 1951 Geneva refugee convention, UNHCR core mandate is to insure the international protection of refugees. This convention promotes the basic human rights of refugees. UNHCR suppose to act as an international watchdog over refugee issues. The 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees is also the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and legal obligations, and the obligations of states.
In august of 1993, Ghana enacted a refugee law which states that the Government of Ghana is not to dehumanize or refuse entry of refugees. In the same document, the Government also agreed not to dehumanized individual (s) or group of people because of their status. In contradiction of the above, the Government of Ghana on so many occasions has continued to abuse, dehumanize, and harass the Liberian refugees for years now. On May 13, 1996, the Government refused entry of a leaking Nigerian vessel “M/V Bulk challenge” carrying hundreds of fleeing Liberian refugees. The Ghana navy opened sporadic gun fire on armless refugees and attempted several times to force the vessel to return to Liberia. The Vessel captain “a Nigerian national”, refused to return to Liberia on grounds that his life and that of hundreds of armless refugees would be in danger. The captain forced his way “under sporadic shooting” to international waters (some 200 nautical miles) from the port of Takoradi in the western region of Ghana and headed to Lome, Togo. After days of negotiations by the then OAU, UNHCR and other world body” Ghana’s then deputy foreign minister “Mohammed Ibn Chambas” continued to defend his government’s actions and refused to accept the vessel. Few hours later, The United Nations announced a huge sum of money (I did not quite remember the exact amount) to be given to any country that would accept the famous leaking Nigerian vessel “M/V Bulk challenge”. Upon this announcement, the Bulk challenge was chased by the Ghana Navy and forced to return to the Port of Takoradi.
Upon disembarking from the vessel, refugees were transported to an abandoned school campus in a small village called Essipon (approximately twelve miles from Sekondi). The school campus was guarded by heavily armed soldiers. Few weeks after arrival, the Ghanaian army made several arrest of refugees. One of the victims “Philip Sinnah” was jailed for several weeks in Takoradi without trial or charges. He was later released and sent back to the refugee camp. A week later, a group of soldiers entered the camp at about 7am and began breaking into tents (refugees’ homes). Refugees were unmercifully beaten by some of the military men simply because they were asleep and did not run outside of their tents. Many sustained bruises on their faces and had to finance their own medical treatment. Over the years, we have also witnessed several assaults on refugees by the Ghana police on Buduburam camp in the central region of Ghana. In one of the cases, one Jonathan K Weedor (who’s presently the youngest commissioner on the elections in Liberia) was a victim. On March 19, 2001, He (Weedor) and many others were adopted and mal handled by Ghanaian police for days before they were released so this is not strange to the Liberian refugees at Buduburam. In May of 2004, this author paid a family visit to Ghana and decided to conduct some covert investigations on refugee cases that were reported by some friends. During my covert investigations, I caught several cases that ran me into tears. In one of the cases, I was made to understand that one of the refuges (whose name was not mentioned to me) died in the winneba prison without trial. Reliable information from my covert investigations shows that following rapid deterioration in his mental state, “the regional high court of the central region had a hearing in Awutu tribunal on Friday 13th day of September 2002 before his worship Mr. J.E. Wilson as chairman, Mr. H.K Zatey, and Mr. S.K.R Tetteh as members” an application filed on behalf of the inmate by one family lawyer by the name of Lisa Quarshie, order that he “the inmate” be sent to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to be medical examined was denied. Up to his death, nothing was done by the UNHCR to secure his release. Another refugee prisoner I met in the Winneba prisons had suffered what I described as “chronic psychological problem” because of his continual stay in prison without trial. When I spoke to him, all he told me was “I don’t know while am here. I’ve been here for more than two years now and no one seems to be doing anything about my condition”. He ran into tears while he concluded his statement. I managed to act like a man but his voice sounded like a million pounds on my head. I stood for a minute and ran into tears too. The last two prisoners I met in The Winneba prisons were Jasper Thomas and Sumo Gbelawoe. They both were arrested on August 9, 2002 for allegedly robbing Kenneth Roberts, Emma Kelle, Morris Rovers, Samilia Norman and Stewart Briggs of their assorted personal effects without any cause. Sumo told me he was arrested from the Buduburam camp at about 6am. He said he had come outside to urinate by the house. In the process of urinating, police ran to him and had him handcuff “simply because he was wearing a new T-shirt” and was transported to the Kasoa prison (some ten miles form Buduburam camp). Few days later, he was transferred to the Winneba prisons where he has since been. A family friend of Sumo “William Tokpa” contacted a lawyer to pursue the case but all efforts to get Sumo out went into vain. Sumo was still sitting in limbo waiting for God’s appointed date to be release. Before I left him, his last statement to me was “brother, you and God are my only hopes now” he balanced his hands under his chain in tears and looked at me walk out of the building. All that I took with me from my family visit was memories of painful occurrences. Upon my return to the States, I personally wrote the UNHCR head offices in Geneva, Switzerland and fax a copy to Amnesty International. My letters were accompanied by copies of communications between Sumo’s lawyer and the Government of Ghana. I appealed to the Government of Liberia, UNHCR, and Amnesty International to help secure the release of the refugees and arranged their repatriation. Few weeks after my contacts, I received several calls from UNHCR and Amnesty International asking for more information about the cases. Pressure mounted on the Government and UNHCR in Ghana which led to the release of some of the whilst it’s true that some Liberians are involved in dubious activities that have caused their imprisonment, others continued to become victims because of their colleague’s ugly behaviors. I am presently in possession of copies of some documents that I obtained during my covert investigations and will be glad to release them to the appropriate authorities for further investigations.Being a refugee in Ghana is becoming a crime since in fact harassment and kidnapping by both the Ghanaian military and the police is becoming a common practice

Press release

BY: THE MOVEMENT SOLIDARITY & TRUST FOR A NEW DAY (S.T.A.N.D.) Phone: (562) 394-0285 Email: stand@who.net Despite his impressive win at the polls, Charles Taylor could not and did not revive Liberia as president because this vicious warlord is responsible for the cold-blooded murders of tens of thousands of defenseless civilians. Considering this fact, is it likely that Ellen Johnson Sirleaf – his co-conspirator - could succeed where Charles Taylor has failed? We are doubtful. Seared in our memory are these haunting words: “He killed my ma, he killed my pa, I’ll vote for him.” Gripped with fear and grasping for straws, the Liberian people allowed Charles Taylor to become president. As everyone well knows, this only prolonged the misery. And regardless the level of Ellen’s contribution to the mayhem, her association with Charles Taylor has never been in doubt. That said; did we not again grasp for straws by electing her as the president? Why would anyone believe that a person so closely associated with Charles Taylor would be right to heal this nation? The people of Liberia know full well Charles Taylor and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are directly responsible for the rapes, torture, maiming and murders of more than 400,000 of our friends and loved ones. Yet Ellen has shown no contrition, compunction or remorse for her contribution, often downplaying the severity of this awful tragedy. Therefore, both these individuals are unacceptable as leaders or role models and will not be rewarded for their crimes. The people of Liberia rejected Charles Taylor primarily because he murdered our fellow compatriots and wrecked the country’s entire infrastructure. This explains why in the fourth year of his presidency, he finally faced the people’s wrath, barely escaping alive. The people have also rejected Ellen Johnson Sirleaf because she financed the brutal war that destroyed a generation, impoverished the entire population, decimated families, and turned Liberians into refugees and beggars. Ordering the NPFL rebels to bomb the residents of Monrovia is unpardonable. The question now is not if, but when will Ellen face the wrath of the Liberian people? Though the date may be unknown, the emotions are certain. Feeling neglected and abandoned, the people of Liberia gathered their anger and dealt decisively with a grave injustice which many had conveniently ignored. This lesson must not be overlooked. The anger which led to the tumultuous events of 2003 still burns deep in the millions whose lives were disrupted by the actions of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and Charles Taylor. But again we wait patiently, hoping and trusting that people of conscience will address this grievous injustice in the interest of peace. We’re hoping our international partners realize if Charles Taylor could not restore peace to this nation, neither can Ellen. It is difficult to say with any degree of certainty when their penned-up anger will eventually erupt into a violent rage. However, one thing is certain: a large segment of the population believes Ellen in large part is responsible for their hurt, pain, grief and loss. Without justice being served, it will be difficult if not impossible for these individuals to forgive and forget; especially when Ellen continues to rekindle negative emotions by mishandling post-war reconstruction. Ellen’s decision not to appear before the internationally-sponsored Truth Commission, but rather give priority to the release of a book intended to fund her retirement only adds insult to injury. This brazen attempt to exploit our dead further demonstrates her contempt for the Liberian people. Such behavior has the potential of reigniting the violence considering the current highly charged atmosphere. And her insensitivity places the entire population at risk. She fails to realize the violence unleashed as a result of her ambitious quest for power is the greatest man-made disaster this nation has ever known; its consequences no doubt will linger for decades. It is understandable Ellen now finds herself in an extremely difficult position being a major contributor to the breakdown of this nation. However, it would be a crime on our part to allow millions to suffer in order to protect a single individual. Ellen knew full well her level of involvement in organizing and prosecuting the brutal war that produced deep-seated anger, hatred and suspicion. Therefore she should have seriously considered possible repercussions before seeking the office of president. Now as the President, she must lead, follow, or step aside. No longer must we delude ourselves into believing Liberia can emerge from its quagmire without holding accountable individuals bearing the greatest responsibility for war crimes and crimes against humanity. This is why we can no longer stand idly by and wait for another deadly insurrection, which is certain to happen should Ellen continue to place her personal interests above that of the collective. And there is no denying it; this nation cannot and will not heal or be rebuilt successfully under the leadership of persons who organized, participated in, or financed the mass killings. Therefore, peace-loving Liberians have mobilized under the banner Solidarity & Trust for A New Day (S.T.A.N.D) with the intent of bringing pressure to bear on the Sirleaf administration. It must implement the necessary changes in order to restore normalcy and reconstitute key institutions; preparing the country for a smooth transition to lasting peace and economic prosperity. The transition, however, must begin with rule of law. We are honored that Honourable T. Q. Harris, Jr has agreed to serve as the leader of this grassroots Movement and be the voice of those seeking change without violence. We hope President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the interest of peace will listen to the voices of hope and reason. Her cooperation also will serve as a deterrent to those contemplating violence and discourage others from becoming foot soldiers. May God bless these endeavors, endow us with wisdom, and grant us peace. Welcome to STAND - the end of business as usual!

A journey worth remembering

Report emanating from the Volta region (in Ghana) reveals that over six hundred Liberian refugees women “including children” are currently held on an abandoned training camp situated in the Volta region of Ghana. According to one of the refugees “currently with the group in the Volta region”, situation is getting worse especially with the children who are not used to sleeping outside in opens. The refugee (whose name is withheld for security reason) described their situation as "dehumanized”. She explained that they were adopted/kidnapped by the Ghanaian army on the morning of March 17, 2008 and driven to an unknown destination. When asked what was the reason given for their adoption? She said the Ghanaian military’s reason given them was that they “the refugees” blocked an ECOWAS road that passes near the Buduburam refugee camp. “We were not even close to the road, we have been peacefully protesting for increase in our repatriation package from the UNHCR. Our peaceful protest has been a sit in action that has been taking place on a soccer field on the refugee. What brought in the Ghanaian Army remains the million dollars un-answer question”. Those were the exact words of the refugee who claimed she was in bed in the open field of the abandon training camp in the Volta region where they are currently held hostage. She said some high ranking officials of UNHCR, the Ghana Refugee Board, and other Human right activists visited the training camp March 18, 2008. During their visit “according to the narrator”, the UNHCR advised them not to accept any offer from their hostage takers or kidnappers while negotiations are underway to secure the release of the refugees but what happens to them next remains un answer. In a telephone interview at about 7:41 PM Delaware State local time or 11:41 PM Ghanaian time, the refugee “ who sounded very frustrated, went into retrospect and began narrating stories dating back from 1996 when Ghanaian Navy shot at Liberia refugees aboard the famous leaking Nigerian Vessel “M/V Bulk Challenge”. According to the 1951 Geneva refugee convention, UNHCR core mandate is to insure the international protection of refugees. This convention promotes the basic human rights of refugees. UNHCR suppose to act as an international watchdog over refugee issues. The 1951 convention relating to the status of refugees is also the key legal document in defining who is a refugee, their rights and legal obligations, and the obligations of states. In august of 1993, Ghana enacted a refugee law which states that the Government of Ghana is not to dehumanize or refuse entry of refugees. In the same document, the Government also agreed not to dehumanized individual (s) or group of people because of their status. In contradiction of the above, the Government of Ghana on so many occasions has continued to abuse, dehumanize, and harass the Liberian refugees for years now. On May 13, 1996, the Government refused entry of a leaking Nigerian vessel “M/V Bulk challenge” carrying hundreds of fleeing Liberian refugees. The Ghana navy opened sporadic gun fire on armless refugees and attempted several times to force the vessel to return to Liberia. The Vessel captain “a Nigerian national”, refused to return to Liberia on grounds that his life and that of hundreds of armless refugees would be in danger. The captain forced his way “under sporadic shooting” to international waters (some 200 nautical miles) from the port of Takoradi in the western region of Ghana and headed to Lome, Togo. After days of negotiations by the then OAU, UNHCR and other world body” Ghana’s then deputy foreign minister “Mohammed Ibn Chambas” continued to defend his government’s actions and refused to accept the vessel. Few hours later, The United Nations announced a huge sum of money (I did not quite remember the exact amount) to be given to any country that would accept the famous leaking Nigerian vessel “M/V Bulk challenge”. Upon this announcement, the Bulk challenge was chased by the Ghana Navy and forced to return to the Port of Takoradi. Upon disembarking from the vessel, refugees were transported to an abandoned school campus in a small village called essipon (approximately twelve miles from Sekondi). The school campus was guarded by heavily armed soldiers. Few weeks after arrival, the Ghanaian army made several arrest of refugees. One of the victims “Philip Sinnah” was jailed for several weeks in Takoradi without trial or charges. He was later released and send back to the refugee camp. A week later, a group of soldiers entered the camp at about 7am and began breaking into tents (refugees’ homes). Refugees were unmercifully beaten by some of the military men simply because I were asleep and did not run outside of their tents. Many sustained bruises on their faces and had to finance their own medical treatment. Over the years, we have also witnessed several assaults on refugees by the Ghana police on Buduburam camp in the central region of Ghana. In one of the cases, one Jonathan K Weedor (who’s presently the youngest commissioner on the elections in Liberia) was a victim. On March 19, 2001, He (Weedor) and many others were adopted and mal handled by Ghanaian police for days before they were released so this is not strange to the Liberian refugees at Buduburam. In may of 2004, this author paid a family visit to Ghana and decided to conduct some covert investigations on refugee cases that were reported by some friends. During my covert investigations, I caught several cases that ran me into tears. In one of the cases, I was made to understand that one of the refuges (whose name was not mentioned to me) died in the winneba prison without trial. Reliable information from my covert investigations shows that following rapid deterioration in his mental state, “the regional high court of the central region had a hearing in Awutu tribunal on Friday 13th day of September 2002 before his worship Mr. J.E. Wilson as chairman and Mr. H.K Zatey, and Mr. S.K.R Tetteh as members” upon an application filed on behalf of the inmate by one family lawyer by the name of Lisa Quarshie, order that he “the inmate” be sent to the Ankaful Psychiatric Hospital to be medical examined was denied. Up to his death, nothing was done by the UNHCR to secure his release. Another refugee prisoner I met in the Winneba prisons had suffered what I described as “chronic psychological problem” because of his continual stay in prison without trial. When I spoke to him, all he told me was “I don’t know while am here. I’ve been here for more than two years now and no one seems to be doing anything about my condition”. He ran into tears while he concluded his statement. I managed to act like a man but his voice sounded like a million pounds on my head. I stood for a minute and ran into tears too. The last two prisoners I met in The Winneba prisons were Jasper Thomas and Sumo Gbelawoe. They both were arrested on August 9, 2002 for allegedly robbing Kenneth Roberts, Emma Kelle, Morris Rovers, Samilia Norman and Stewart Briggs of their assorted personal effects without any cause. Sumo told me he was arrested from the Buduburam camp at about 6am. He said he had come outside to urinate by the house. in the process of urinating, police ran to him and had him handcuff “simply because he was wearing a new T-shirt” and was transported to the Kasoa prison (some ten miles form Buduburam camp). Few days later, he was transferred to the Winneba prisons where he has since been. A family friend of Sumo “William Tokpa” contacted a lawyer to pursue the case but all efforts to get Sumo out went into vain. Sumo was still sitting in limbo waiting for God’s appointed date to be release. Before I left him, his last statement to me was “brother, you and God are my only hopes now” he balanced his hands under his chain in tears and looked at me walk out of the building. All that I took with me from my family visit was memories of painful occurrences. Upon my return to the States, I personally wrote the UNHCR head offices in Geneva, Switzerland and fax a copy to Amnesty International. My letters were accompanied by copies of communications between Sumo’s lawyer and the Government of Ghana. I am appealing to the incoming Government of Liberia to please secure the release of the refugees and arranged their repatriation. Whilst it’s true that some Liberians are involved in dubious activities that have caused their imprisonment, others continued to become victims because of their colleague’s ugly behaviors. I am presently in possession of copies of some documents that I obtained during my covert investigations and will be glad to release them to the appropriate authorities for further investigations. Being a refugee in Ghana is becoming a crime since in fact harassment and kidnapping by both the Ghanaian military and the police is becoming a common practice in Ghana.

support for the proposed citizenship retention act

Alvin Teage Jalloh Attorney & Counselor at Law 320 MacDade Blvd, Suite 105Collingdale, PA 19023 Office: 484-494-8821Cell: 267-934-6603 Email: jallohlaw2@yahoo.com December 14, 2007 The Honorable Ellen Johnson Sirleaf President of the Republic of Liberia The Executive Mansion P.O. Box 9001 Capitol Hill, Monrovia Republic of Liberia Ref: support for the proposed citizenship retention act Dear Madame President: I write this letter to respectfully request your support for the Citizenship Retention Act which was introduced in the House of Representatives on July 24, 2007, by Honorable Armah Sarnor and Honorable Vaforay Kamara. Acting on behalf of Liberians worldwide, proponents of this Act are seeking to protect all Liberians against the involuntary loss of their Liberian citizenship. This is an important issue that affects a large number of Liberians, particularly those living abroad as well as the families, friends, and communities that they were forced to leave behind during the years of armed violence and persecution in our nation. The introduction of this historic Act represents another important step in our nation’s promise to formulate its laws in a way that is relevant to the innovations of modern life. The proposed Act is currently before the House Judiciary Committee and is ripe for debate. As counsel for Non-Resident Liberians, I would greatly appreciate your assistance in influencing the 52nd National Legislature to make this Act a legal reality. As you are aware, Madame President, the many years of armed violence and persecution in our nation forced more than 900,000 Liberians to flee their homes and seek refuge in other countries. As time past and while maintaining strong ties with Liberia, a sizeable number of these Liberians got married to citizens of other countries; gave birth to thousands of children in their host countries; became naturalized citizens in their host countries; and took employment in the armed forces of their host countries. All of these Liberians have a right to retain their status as Liberian citizens, regardless of what status they have established in their host countries. The principle of equal rights for all Liberians is one of the central themes of our democracy. Any law, therefore, that treats a Liberian as a non-citizen or second-class citizen, is detrimental to the system of social equality as advocated by this government. This problem is best illustrated by the government’s stance on the issue of loss of Liberian citizenship. Under the existing practice, the due process requirement under Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution is ignored. As a result, Liberians who become naturalized citizens of another country or serve in the armed forces of another country without prior approval from the President of Liberia are treated as if they voluntarily relinquished their Liberian citizenship. For these Liberians, however, this was not the intended result. Liberians did not lose their citizenship by being forced into exile. Consequently, the government’s position on this issue is punitive in nature and undermines the principle of equal rights for all Liberians. Now more than ever as your administration seeks to encourage Liberians at home and abroad to adjust their lives and make substantial contributions to our nation’s development, such a practice will have a daunting effect on Liberians, and make them less inclined to lend their support to the government. In addition, if your administration were to embrace a practice that eviscerates the due process requirement under Article 20(a) of the Liberian Constitution, it would be viewed by many Liberians as a betrayal of your legacy as President of Liberia and as a retaliatory measure penalizing Liberians who chose to do what they could to provide for their families. We acknowledge the positive steps the government is taking at home and abroad, and believe the government can broaden its focus to address the retention of citizenship issue, an issue that is of great concern to Liberians worldwide. The proposed Citizenship Retention Act, presently before the House of Representatives, is designed to protect all Liberians against involuntary losses of their Liberian citizenship when they become naturalized citizens of another country or serve in the armed forces of another country without prior approval from the President of Liberia. The proposed Act recognizes that Liberians should not be penalized for being forced into exile. It further recognizes that protecting all Liberians against involuntary losses of their Liberians citizenship is a global necessity that will benefit Liberia. We believe the proposed Act is constitutional and, when passed into law, will help to create a more robust Liberian society and enable Liberia to better compete with the growing number of countries, including West African countries such as Benin, Burkina Faso, Cape Verde, Ghana, Mali, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, and Togo that have and continue to benefit from their citizens having dual or multiple citizenship. Madame President, the interests of our nation and people have expanded beyond our territorial borders. According to UNMIL statistics, there are about 450,000 Liberians living in the United States and Canada, another 250,000 more living in Western Europe, and thousands more living in other parts of the world. Liberia is at a remarkable junction in its history! Never before has Liberia had such impressive number of contacts outside its territorial borders; never before have so many Liberians been in positions to influence the policies of foreign governments so as to benefit Liberia; and never before has the Liberian government had such an awesome opportunity to tap the investment potential and expertise of Liberians who acquire citizenship of another country or serve in the armed forces of another country. Throughout our nation's history, when faced with changing global realities, we have acted to make our laws relevant by expanding our democracy and empowering individuals. We have, for example, gone from a restrictive definition of citizenship that treated a large number of Liberians as subjects, to a more inclusive definition that embraces all Liberians regardless of tribal, religious, or political affiliations. We have gone from a male-based qualification of the right to vote, to a gender-neutral definition that permits both Liberian males and females to vote. And we have, among other recent accommodations, suspended the ten-year residency clause in the nation's constitution to allow more Liberians to run for the office of President of Liberia. Having lived abroad, Madame President, you can fully appreciate the many benefits such as better education, training, and job opportunities that Liberians encounter in other countries. By taking full advantage of these resources, Liberians are able to acquire the skills necessary to enhance their quality of life and also provide for the needs of their families, friends and communities in Liberia. Their efforts to enrich themselves and their country should be met with praise and not diminished by the threat of the loss of their Liberian citizenship. By passing the Citizenship Retention Act, the government will assure Liberians worldwide that they are valuable members of the Liberian society and also encourage them to continue to contribute to the socio-economic advancement of their country. Madame President, as you prepare to deliver your 2008 State of the Republic address before a joint session of the 52nd National Legislature, we look forward to your support in getting this monumental Act enacted into law. Thank you for your time and consideration. May God continue to richly bless you as you lead our nation from a post-conflict status into a stable, prosperous, and leading democracy! Respectfully, Alvin Teage Jalloh, Esq. Counsel for Non-Resident Liberians Note: On December 14, 2007, Non-Resident Liberians contacted the offices of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to take stand on the issue of Dual Citizenship in Liberia. Few hours later, a short email was received acknowledging receipt of the letter to the President. In that email, this group was told that the President will review the letter and take appropriate action as soon as possible. For the benefit of over 1500 signatories and the Liberian public, we are making the copy of this letter public. Sam K Zinnah Chairman, Non-Resident Liberians

Gbarpolu County, A Possible Way Forward?

The recent electoral shuffle in Gbarpolu County is one of the latest changes in the history of the newly created County. Gbarpolu County was created under the leadership of former Liberian President “Charles Taylor” in 2001. Gbarpolu County Capital “Bopolu” was the historic headquarter of the Condo Kingdom which led to the establishment of Liberia as a nation state. The Qua speaking are the dominant ethnic group in the County. Gbarpolu was formerly a very important part of Lofa County. Known for it dense forest and wildlife collection, Gbarpolu County is also economically known for it logging, mining, and agricultural contributions to Liberia.

On December 18, 2007, voters (even though less than fifty percent of register voters) queued up to cast their final ballot in the county’s run-off elections. In that final, Independent candidate A. Kanie Wesso suffered an embarrassing 29.5% defeat. His challenger “Unity Party’s” Theodore Momo won with a hurricane force of 70.5%. Momo comfortably led from day one of the entire process. Momo’s potential force was detected when he pocket more than nine of the twelve votes at the Unity Party Primary in Bopolu. During the first round of the bi-election which took place on December 4, 2007, in the crowded electoral field of nine candidates, Unity Party ‘Theodore Momo’ obtained more than 39% of the total valid votes cast. The rest of the votes were shared among the rest of the eight candidates. Theodore Momo’s rival A. Kanie Wesso “according to the NEC” obtained 17.8% of the votes left behind by Theodore thus pushing him in the second place position to wrestle Unity Party young giant Theodore Momo in the run-off. Although Independent Kanie Wesso nudged high among his remaining eight colleagues into the first round of the elections that was over crowded with nine senatorial candidates, the story changed on December 18th when Unity party “Theodore Momo” came back with a determine and well strategized smack down in which independent “Kanie Wesso” suffered a huge casualty.

The electoral race in Gbarpolu was a titanic struggle between Unity Party Theodore Momo and independent candidate A. Kanie Wesso. The by-election was an important millstone in the current development and political crisis in the newly created county. Unity Party ‘Theodore Momo’s emergence as a senior senator of Gbarpolu County starts the disintegration of Armah Jallah, Jallah Lone and former Lofa County senator Eddington Varmah’s political influence and clout, and the emergence of alternative leadership in Gbarpolu County. In a recent telephone interview with cross section of Gbarpolu County Citizens in the Diaspora, Theodore Momo’s election has drawn a close attention to the County’s development agenda. According to one of the Gbarpolu Citizens interviewed in the Diaspora, “the people of Gbarpolu deserve more than what has been offered (if any) in the past”. He went on to further explain; we have had too much from the old or recycle Politicians in our area, even when we were still under Lofa County. When we were part of Lofa County, we had Willie Belleh as a Senator. Willie Belleh was one of the voices of those days. All he did was to second all motions in the house at the time. In 1997, Cllr. Eddington Varmah was elected the first Senator of Gbarpolu County, a year later, he willingly packed and walk out of his elected position to take an appointed position offered him by Charles Taylor. Those are just few of the disappointments we’ve had over the decades. I think our elders and other residents of Gbarpolu are just tired of political rhetoric.

Another person (who also preferred to remain unidentified), referred to the recent electoral Smack down as “a new alternative for development”, he described Theodore’s emergence as very timely and maybe wise since in fact Theodore Momo is a brand new name among the many questioned ones in the County. He said, most talents are discovered through delegation of responsibility and authority. He further explained; over the decades now, we have not had the chance to exercise this level of Democracy that we are exercising now. “None of us from the Belle District would ever imagine someone from the “minority” Gbandi speaking area to be elected to such high position in our County, but it has come to reality. I think it is for a very important reason”.

During “District #3” Representative Dickson T. Yarsiah’s last visit to the U.S., this author had an exclusive interview with Hon. Yarsiah. During that interview, Hon. Yarsiah was asked:
Q. What are your legislative caucus’ major development pillars for Gbarpolu County?

Dickson T. Yarsiah: Immediately after our induction into offices, we wrote a five years development package covering four major key focuses, those focuses are: one, road network, two, health, three, education and four, agriculture. We decided to do these as priority because of the fourteen years of destructions our country experienced. As you know, all of our social institutions were destroyed. Roads were locked, right now; most places are not still accessible. This is why we decided to make road network our priority. Next is health, and that’s followed by education, and as we said, four is agriculture so as to make them self sufficient.

Q. According to your county development agenda, the first priority is placed on the rehabilitation of road networks. To date, Bokomu and Ngue-nwolala districts are still land-lacked and completely inaccessible to NGOs and other humanitarian institutions that may want to deliver basic social services to residents of the two Districts, what percentage of your priority has been achieved after nearly two years in office?
Dickson T Yarsiah: Well as you know Sam, a nation on this fate with a little over three hundred and some years when the war came for almost fifteen years and destroy all those institutions, we cannot just build them over night. When it comes to the roads leading from Bopolu to Gue-Ngwolala and Bokomu districts, that includes also Belle District, really Gue-Ngwolala and Bokomu Districts have been land-locked since the existing of our country. Belle District had some kind of path roads where some past so-called investors used to only harvest their logs and bring them forth. So, Sam, to be candid with you, this government has done all she could. What we decided to do first was to ensure that we prepare a development agenda or package. Well, now that we’ve prepared the development package, as we speak, we’ve started rehabilitating the roads from Tubmanburg “Bomi County” to Gbarpolu County capitol “Bopolu”. And from there we are going to continue the road rehabilitations as promised by this government. We will also ensure that the road is build between Belle Yalla. That will also touch portion of Bokomu district. We will later be connecting Gbarpolu County to Bong County by way of the St. Paul River to palakolleh. We just got a company that has agreed in principal to build the bridge over the St. Paul River. That company will also be extending the bridge construction to the Tuma River in Bokomu. So, this government has just started the implementations of those promises made to our people during the campaign. But the first two years or the first twenty months were designed to prepare ourselves to commence your work. You know you can’t just get up to build roads without studies because it is capital intensive and there are lots of studies you need to do. You first of all need to survey, you need to do assessment, blue print, before you can commence and this is exactly what we are doing.

The above analysis by Representative Dickson T Yarsiah seems to be a new direction for Gbarpolu County. Many believed that with the hard working and clean record of Theodore Momo on board the development drive, Gbarpolu might be heading to a positive direction. Theodore Momo’s election also coincided with the formation of Gbarpolu County Association in the Diaspora. The formation of this Association “on the County level” is the first of it kind in the County’s history. The Interim leadership of the Association has been arranged. Those selected at the meeting were: Sam K Zinnah, Interim Chairman, Cllr. Alvin Teage Jalloh, Interim Secretary, Dwanah S. Dwanah, Interim Treasure, Dempster Khuta Yallah, Interim head of the constitution committee. With the work of the Gbarpolu County legislative caucus and other appointed County officials backed by the Diaspora development oriented force, Gbarpolu is likely to graduate from the current development sink to emerge as one of the fastest growing Counties. The possible way forward is our center of attention for now and in the future.

Sam K Zinnah
Smyrna, Delaware

A Sure Way To Restore Liberia's Image

By: T. Q. Harris, Jr.


Ironically, the most compelling argument we have heard in favor of AFRICOM has come from one of its strongest opponents.

General Victor Malu, a highly respected Nigerian military officer, does not mince words when he speaks of AFRICOM. There is no mistaking his position regarding this issue. The U.S. Africa Command, in Gen. Malu’s opinion, will not benefit Africa; rather it is intended solely to protect America’s interests.

But here is where the good General unintentionally makes the case for AFRICOM: In a recent interview with a Nigerian newspaper, General Malu said he urged leaders of the ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) not to dismantle the ECOMOG (Economic Community Monitoring Group) following its successful missions in both Liberia and Sierra Leone. He also proposed standardizing the weapon systems and training the troops together on an ongoing basis. Much had been learned, the General intimated, in resolving the conflicts in Sierra Leone and Liberia. These lessons, he believes, would prove highly beneficial in future peacekeeping and/or peace enforcement operations.

But his advice went unheeded. Hence, today ECOMOG as a unit does not exist.

Failure on the part of political leaders to heed General Malu’s advice only strengthens the argument for AFRICOM or any serious efforts to maintain law and order and prevent unnecessary loss of human lives.

Why would those charged with seeking the welfare of West Africans not listen and act upon the recommendations of the man whose military and diplomatic prowess brought an end to a war which claimed upwards of 200,000 lives and disrupted the economy of the entire sub-region? Should another conflict similar to that of Sierra Leone and Liberia break out today, what plans are there to prevent mass killings of defenseless civilians? Guess where again we would turn for help?

Pride – or should we say fool’s pride - has been the cause of much heartache and pain for the peoples of Africa. It often clouds our judgment, resulting in a lack of progress. Pride in earnest is at the root of the crippling poverty and disease that is devastating Africa’s human capital.

After all the posturing, speeches, hugging, backslapping, and name change, the African Union to date has not offered any real hope. Right from the start, it has failed the first major test. The organization has been totally ineffective in halting the massacre and rescuing those barely clinging to life in Darfur. While the leaders speak of a unified Africa, there is constant unrest and disunity within the individual countries. At this very moment conflicts linger in Chad, D R Congo, Ethiopia/Eritrea, Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, Sudan, and Uganda, to name a few, as HIV/AIDS and malaria claim the lives of tens of thousands of Africans with no end in sight. It’s obvious we need help, but perhaps are too proud to ask. We would rather watch our women and children suffer and die needlessly while blaming others and proffering excuses.

In the case of Liberia, a century of gross mismanagement and the extremely destructive war has thrown this country back into the dark ages. Along with its stature, confidence has been lost. Liberia is now fighting for a place at the back of the line. We have leaders who cannot lead. In order to recover; we - the people - must aggressively pursue every available opportunity and stop pegging our progress to that of nations which themselves are backward. It’s high time we reclaim our rightful place among the nations of Africa and again become the leader that we are.

Democracy is not an event; rather it’s a way of life. Therefore we collectively without hesitation must demand whatever improves our wellbeing. And never as a nation must we lose sight of our strengths and uniqueness.

An awesome opportunity is knocking at this very moment and we cannot afford to lose it. We must wrest it with all the vigor we can muster and claim it now!

Liberia and the U.S. Africa Command are a perfect fit. Therefore the headquarters of AFRICOM must be based in this country. To make this happen we urge all Liberians to immediately call, email, or send a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense and tell him We Want The Headquarters of AFRICOM In Our Country. The final decision regarding a home for these facilities will be made shortly. This is an opportunity for you to help restore this nation’s image while demonstrating that Liberians are ready to turn a new page. Nothing would be more hurtful than to watch another African nation accorded this privilege. Do not delay!

With or without AFRICOM, the resources of Africa – human and material – will continue to flow outward. To ensure there is balance, we must develop an effective strategy. And those in leadership positions must come up with a plan that empowers the individual. Meanwhile, we no longer can continue on the current path of endless talk, criticism, blame, dreaming and finger pointing while the vast majority of our people languish in abject poverty, ignorance and disease.

We are aware that a number of African countries are opposed to AFRICOM. They believe it offers no benefit for Africa. Yet not one of these critics has put forth a viable alternative they are prepared to pay for. However, we believe they mean well. But it is clear they do not have a plan that will transform the impoverished and unstable nations of Africa.

Therefore, we must inundate the offices of the U.S. Secretary of Defense with petitions, so there will be no doubt Liberians support AFRICOM and welcome its Headquarters. If our country is not selected, let it not be because we – the people - did not ask diligently. Although the infrastructure currently are inadequate, there is no doubt Liberia in time will prove to be the best alternative. It has been a dependable ally of the United States with strong historical ties. As stated in its objectives, AFRICOM will work with the African Union to promote stability and rule of law wherever needed; if there is a country that needs this right now, it’s Liberia.

For those uncertain as to whether they should support this campaign, ask yourself this question: Am I willing to forfeit the benefits to be derived by allowing the headquarters of AFRICOM to be based in another African country?

The vast majority of our compatriots, due to circumstances beyond their control, are not in the position to submit petitions. Therefore, if you have family members in this category who share your views regarding this issue, please include them in your petition. Indicate the number of persons you represent in all written and/or oral communications.

Let your voice be heard by calling, emailing, or posting a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Defense:

Mr. Robert M. Gates Voice Mail: (703) 428-0711
Secretary of Defense
The Department of Defense Email: http://www.defenselink.mil/faq/questions.aspx 1400 Defense Pentagon Click on: Make a Comment…Washington, DC 20310


The Author: Mr. T. Q. Harris, Jr. is currently the General Chairman of Liberia Contemporees United Patriotic and Strong (Contemp UPS: www.contemporees.org) and a former vice presidential nominee. He can be reached by phone in the US at (562) 394-0285 or (979) 599-2295; in Liberia - (231) 652-4295, or email him at liberia1@charter.net

Yet another defeat

On December 4, 2007, register voters all over Gbarpolu County headed to their various pooling station to elect their senator. According to reports from several stations, turn out was a bit low during the morning hours. One observer attributed the low turn out to “many polling stations” compared to the 2005 elections which had fewer stations. He said; if you compare the number of stations we have now to the number we had during the general elections, you will find a huge difference. So, many of the people that were at these stations during that time are now in their own local areas”.
Another observer said most of the register voters were farmers. The observer said most of them decided to take care of personal business before returning to cast their ballots in the evening.
At about 6:00 PM Liberian time, I called Radio Gbarpolu and spoke to several representatives at the Bopolu Central High School Campus. All the representatives described the process as free, fair and transparent. According to them, ballot counting began immediately after the pool closed. Few hours after the pool closed, preliminary results began to pull in. According to the NEC and other observers, Ruling Unity Party “Theodore Momoh” is in a comfortable lead ahead of eight other candidates. If the Ruling Unity Party “Theodore Momoh” keep grip on his comfortable lead, he will be pushing several other candidates into “yet another defeat”.

Full story coming soon!!

The possible consequences of the electoral battle in Gbarpolu County by-election

On December 4th 2007, the Gbarpolu County by-election is scheduled to take place. Voter’s registration is all set and ready for the elections. Gbarpolu County was created under the leadership of former Liberian dictator “Charles Taylor” in 2001. Gbarpolu County Capital “Bopolu” was the historic headquarter of the Condo Kingdom which secured the establishment of Liberia as a nation state. Gbarpolu County has a huge number of Muslim populations. The Qua speaking are the dominant ethnic group in the County. Gbarpolu was formerly a very important part of Lofa County, Gbarpolu is known for it dense forest and wildlife collection. The County is economically known for it logging, mining, and agricultural contributions to Liberia.

In this analysis, I will be looking at various candidates and the possible consequences of the electoral battle of Gbarpolu County. I will also be drawing out an in-depth analysis of electoral forces and their orientations in the county.
The electoral race in Gbarpolu will be a titanic struggle between Unity Party Theodore Momo, Congress for Democratic Change Malikee Dukely, independent Kanie Wesso, National Patriotic Party’s Siafa V.G Konneh, and former Lofa County senator Armah Zulu Jallah. Mr. Jallah also ran as standard bearer of the National Party of Liberia (NPL) in the 2005 presidential elections. His NPL won 0.4% vote in the presidential pull and fail to secure or win any seats in the senate or lower house. This by-election will be an important millstone in the current development and political crisis in the newly created county. If Former Senator Armah Zulu Jallah Wins, he will cement his position as the logging company’s choice. Since the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections, Armah and his National Party of Liberia (NPL) have been very dormant. It was reported in the November 16, 2007 edition of the Liberian daily observer that Armah Jallah is contesting the by-election as an independent candidate. The unanswered questions are; is Armahs’ National Party of Liberia un-acceptable to the people of Gbarpolu? Why would Mr. Jallah abandon the political party “he formed” to run as independent candidate? Is Mr. Jallah the only member of the party?

Many have viewed Armah as a photo copy of his father (Paramount Chief Jallah Lone) who has always been in search of greasing his elbow. During the Notorious Charles Taylor regime, Chief Jallah Lone was seen as one of the bones behind the regime. A year after the 2005 elections that brought the Unity Party to power, Jallah Lone appeared on Star radio to divorce his relationship with Former President Charles Taylor. When asked who crowned Charles Taylor as Dahkpannah, the Paramount Chief overtly announced that Charles Taylor hijacks the Dahkpannah title and now that the former president is indicted and deposited in The Hague, he (Jallon lone) script Taylor of the title and is now the holder of the title.
Meanwhile, if Unity Party Theodore Momo wins, this will start the disintegration of Armah Jallah, Jallah Lone and former Lofa County senator Eddington Varmah’s political influence and clout, and the emergence of alternative leadership in Gbarpolu County. Armah Jallah, Jallon Lone and Eddington Varmah, the three, while differing in personality, share the same beast-men-ship temperament and tyrannical thirst for power.

However, Armah Jallah and Eddington Varmah share additional flow, “a propensity to pocket what belongs to the public”. Their chief political vulnerability is that all three men (Armah Jallah, Jallah Lone & Eddington Varmah) greedily pursue personal fortune, and has no qualms about using their public clouts to pursue wealth for beyond anything which might be called their needs or want. Events recently caught up with former Senator Eddington Varmah who was politically dumped in his home town “Bopolu” during the Unity Party primary. Mr. Varmah was fairly whipped by Theodore Momo.
The steaks are very high and the battle in this by-election has an ominous feel about it. Some analysts are predicting that a compromise maybe reached at the end of the first round. The Armah Jallah group will preferred to hang on a Malikee Dukuly leadership than to hang on a Theodore Momo leadership. Armah Jallah can easily relate to Malikee Dukuly than Theodore Momo or Kanie Wesso. To date, according to reliable sources closed to the National Elections Commission in Liberia, there are 22,502 registered voters in Gbarpolu County. Of the amount, a huge percent is from electoral District #3. That part of Gbarpolu is headed by Representative Dickson Temo Yarsiah. Gbarpolu County Junior Senator Daniel Naatehn is also from District #3. Both Hon. Naatehn and Hon. Yarsiah are driving the “Theodore Momo campaign wagons” in their constituent which is believed to be hosting the majority of the by-election’s registered voters in Gbarpolu County.

Cllr. Kanie Wesso is another candidate from District #3 and is going as Independent candidate. Cllr. Wesso “according to sources from Gbarpolu”, lost terribly during the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections. According to the sources, Cllr. Kanie Wesso won less than twenty votes in Bopolu and Gbarma. Prior to the 2005 elections, people from Cllr. Kanie Weso’s home District (Belle District) complained about his disassociation with his own people. He was described by one colleague as “very self centered”. The colleague cited few examples: “look! We all went to Belle Yalla when President Sirleaf visited the place. On our way back, Cllr. Kanie Wesso drove his car empty while our elders walk days looking for means of transportation to Monrovia. Will this gentleman be a true representative of our people”? On another occasion, some youths from the district went to his (Cllr. Weso’s) office to try to find out his side of the political issues between him “Cllr. Weso” and Hon. Dickson Yarsiah. Kanie again arrogantly drove the youths out of his office and threaten to whip anyone found in his office to talk about such issue”. Keenly analyze those two instances and tell me weather we “from his own district” should queue up for him.

In the U.S., this author has been fortunate to talk to few people from the Belle District residing in the U.S. The responses from some of the people were reverberating. One of his former school mates narrated. “I called Cllr. Kanie Wesso when I had some legal problems that I needed help with in Liberia. I mainly called him because I felt he’s from my District, my former school mate and even a family to me, but surprisingly, he charged me exorbitantly and was “above all” very rude in the process, I believed he’s not the right person for this job”.
Many believed Cllr. Kanie Wesso has been undertaking development projects in the District only because he was badly whipped in the 2005 elections in which he was running as Senator. The 2005 electoral shuffle is one of the latest changes in the history of Liberia. People who considered themselves as “political brand names” were disappointed when the elections results were announced. During those results, three major things happened: People were surprised their names were not in the winning numbers, people were surprised who won & people were surprised why they didn’t win. Liberians are now getting to know the real patriots from the political opportunists.

During the Unity Party primary in Bopolu, Bartu Dorley was one of those whipped by Theo Momo. Batu’s trouble started during the1997 elections. Bartu Dorley, a close relative of Cllr. Varmah, had spent time out of her home County of Gbarpolu and hardly knew anyone in the county. She contacted Cllr Varmah in search of advice and reunion with her origin. Bartu put a package together for her people in Bopolu. She asked Cllr. Varmah to take the token to her people and inform them that it was a gift from their daughter “Bartu”. A perfect case for a chameleon; Cllr.Varmah transformed himself into Bartu Dorley and presented the token in his own name. When Batu appeared in Bopolu to talk to her people, she was considered a complete stranger. Batu is a very hard working lady but she unfortunately used the wrong medium of contact or reunion with her people. What she probably needs to do now is to work independently to prepare her self for the next general parliamentary elections. Her withdrawal from this by-election race was a very smart one.

There is also rumor of withdrawal of Coalition for the transformation of Liberia’s (COTOL’s) Isaac Manner from the race. In a recent Front Page Africa grade board, COTOL scored a “B”, but others referred to the party as “empty place”. COTOL won 7.8% in the presidential race and secured eight seats in the Senate and seven seats in the House of Representatives. Manner’s reason(s) or plans to drop from the race are still not known but if he does, he will be putting Unity Partys’ Theodore Momo, CDCs’ Malikee Dukuly at the top.

Not much is known about Isaac Johnson. Recently during a workshop in Bopolu, Johnson ‘along with other candidates’ was asked by Gbarpolu County development Superintendent “Mr. Monlonporlor” to remove their campaign vehicles that were packed on Government property in Bopolu. Isaac Johnson cried fetid political harassment by the superintendent but observers says Mr. Johnson is not even the fourth potential person in line for the job.

Unity Party Theodore Momo has built an extraordinary reputation for himself and his party over the years. Theo “a graduate of the University of Liberia” is currently the deputy director of the Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). Sources closed to the Unity Party hierarchy says Mr. Momo is highly favored by President Sirleaf for his hard work and clean Character. With his campaign team being headed by District #3 representative, Hon. Dickson T. Yarsiah and Gbarpolu County junior Senator Daniel Naatahn “whose also from District #3”, Theodore Momo stands a better chance than all of the candidates in the race.

Congress for Democratic Changes’ Malikee Dukuly is observed by many as “the second potential person in line for the job”. Malikee is from Medina, a Town few miles south of Bopolu City. Malikee Dukuly, Armah Jallah & politically battered ‘Cllr. Eddington Varmah’ are all from the same environs but are politically diverse. In 1998, Cllr. Eddington Varmah unceremoniously walked away from his elected senatorial position to take on a presidential appointment under his political mentor and creator Charles Taylor”. The price he’s eventually paying for his unpopular 1998 political decision is just unimaginable.
Cllr. Varmah’s replacement process started few months after his unceremonious departure from the Senate. In that 1998 primary held in Bopolu, Armah Zulu Jallah was fairly whipped by Gibson Tania but that defeat lasted for few hours. Armah’s father “Paramount Chief Jallah Lone” dispatched a team to Cyril Allen. Allen served as the Party Chairman of the ruling National Patriotic Party at the time. The team was well prepared to kick Gibson Tania out of the race. An identity card was covertly made with Gibson Tania’s photograph, making him “Tania” a member of Alhaji Koroma’s ALCOP. When NPP’s Cyril Allen received report on his desk about Gibson Tania contesting the election under false identity, he “Mr. Tania” was immediately thrown out of the race, putting Armah Jallah in the luxury seat at ease. Jallah Lone’s action was just a repeat of his usual ways. It can be recorded that Jallah Lone was whipped several time in election in Bopolu. In one of those elections, Jallah Lone went against the Late Malikee Siryon. At the time, voters queued behind their choice of candidate and a head count was conducted to determine the winner. Malikee Siryon whipped Jallah Lone several time but Jallah Lone went to Monrovia and returned with Presidential mandate “declaring him the legitimate winner of the election”. Malikee Siryon won several time but was never inaugurated in office.

Armah entered the Upper house but was soon found collecting money from investors that were expressing interest in logging in Gbarpolu County. In mid August of 2003, Charles Taylor was coerced into exile. After his departure, the National Transitional Legislative Assembly ( NTLA) was created as part of an August 2003 Peace Agreement that ended a civil war between the government forces of Charles Taylor and two rebel groups: The Movement for Democracy in Liberia (MODEL), and Liberians United for reconciliation and Democracy (LURD). The agreement also called for the broad-based transitional Government that would rule for two years, ending with the holding of elections in October 2005. The NTLA replaced the bicameral Legislature, which was elected in 1997. That agreement automatically took away Armah’s ax.

Since the departure of their creator “former Dahkpannah”, they have been hunted by the stigma of their political mentor “Charles Taylor”. Armah is likely to pay the price for his past actions and connection to the NPP regime.
During the 2005 presidential and parliamentary elections, Siafa V.G. Konneh Sr ran on the National Patriotic Party’s (NPP) ticket but was electorally manhandled by his opponents.
In the November 16, 2007 edition of the Daily Observer, reporter J. Rufus Paul reported that the Gbarpolu by-election campaign is in high gear and voters are eyeing three candidates. Looking at the number of voters’ registered in Gbarpolu, Bopolu is not a place to determine who the possible choice of the voters is. Armah Jallah and Malikee Dukuly are all from suburban Bopolu so residents of the area are quite familiar with them. As the old saying goes, “the strength of Tamba is limited to Foya”, so Armah, Malikee, and Siafa need to expand their campaign else where to test their popularity.
Secret ballot election is quite deceitful. Because of politicians tricky games in the past, electorates are all prepared to clap for anyone who offered something in return for votes but the real price will be awarded at the ballot box.
With the crammed full electoral field in Gbarpolu, first round winner is just unavoidable. With this predications and analysis, I anxiously wait for the first round results.

Sam K Zinnah
Smyrna, Delaware

CDC responds to Mulbal Morlu

A Statement Released on the Accusation Made Against the Standard Bearer of the Congress for Democratic Change

Today brings to attention the true nature of a handful of thugs, lots and gangs who lack the moral rectitude and face in the Liberian society. These handfuls of men acting under the sunshade of opinion leaders in the Congress of Democratic Change (CDC) have embarked upon a smear campaign, not only against our Standard Bearer Amb. George M. Weah but also the National Leadership of the CDC.

Mr. McDonald Wento who was thrown out of the CDC for fraud, incitement and rebellion has again embarked upon his inherent criminal trait by using miscreants, mendicants and mediocres like Forum for the Establishment of War Crimes Court Chairman Mulbah K. Morlu to defame the hard earned character of Amb. Weah and the CDC leadership.

The life draft of War Crimes Court Mulbah is beset with disappointment and contradictions. At one point in time Mulbah became an evangelist for a church in the Gardnersville community and was said to have been involved in a sex scandal that led to a pregnancy that he heatedly denied. This embarrassment, pair with his religious defense for former Liberian dictator, Mr. Charles Taylor landed him into trouble with his congregation. He had to seek exile in Ghana. While in Ghana, the Mulbah teamed up with one Pastor Bah on the Buduburum refugee camp and earned the religious title ‘General’. General Morlu who resided in the home of his fiancée Memunah chose to beg her consideration for him to go into matrimony with a lady he met on the internet. The consideration was granted and General Morlu went ahead to marry Queen Sheba, an American and a victim of the September Eleven bombing in the United States of America.

Waterlogged into desperation and utter poverty, General Morlu in his religious garment envisaged this marriage as a redemptive path for his state of grunginess. The marriage was enchanting, as Buduburum became a center of desirability for General as those who know him from Ghana call him. He used this marriage for the establishment of Queen Sheba Foundation that was intended to help impoverished and war affected Liberians seek greener pasture in the USA. Under this gambit, millions of cedes were extorted from both Liberian refuges and Ghanaians.

This long-winded journey to the USA became an optical illusion and disgruntlement was soon to set in as deluge of calorific outburst engulfed the General and Pastor Bah. For safety of his life, General Morlu kept from the camp and took refuge in Accra. While in Accra, Ghana, General Morlu got in contact with Representative Dusty Wolokollie who encouraged and helped him to be in Liberia today. General Morlu made a commitment to work with Representative Wolokollie and his party, the Liberian People’s Party (LPP).

After collecting few cash from the representative, Mulbah became an out of the ordinary in the hands that fed him.

At this juncture, General Morlu began lobbying with stalwarts of the Liberian Action Party (LAP) to serve in the public relations area. To further buttress this point, Mulbah was live on a talked show hosted on Power FM when a female caller from the offices of Cllr. Varney Sherman acrimoniously referred to him as one who went to LAP in search of becoming part of their public relations bureau and succeeded in getting some funds. General Morlu this time headed an advocacy group named and styled ‘’Progressive Action for Change’’ (PAC) that charged Cllr. Sherman and LAP for pre-campaign activities. Again, Mulbah became a deviant to the hands that fed him. Today PAC is a dead concept due to Mulbah’s incessant piggish attitude and faux pas.

No sooner, General Morlu emerged on the mesmeric grounds of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). As we drove towards convention in the city of Buchanan, internal political tension for the chairmanship of the party got heated up. The interim chairman L. Horatio Gould faced serious opposition from Mr. Jacob Kabakolle. Morlu was again seen at the cynosure of this political debate. On one occasion, he blended Gould as ‘’the devil from hell’’ and in few days he was seen with Gould and this time chanting the slogan ‘’Jake the snake,’’ an epithet given to Mr. Jacob Kabakolle by Mulbah. Both the hands of Gould and Kabakollie fed him but Mulbah care less to retrospect.

At the primaries that qualified applicants to run on the ticket of the CDC in the general and presidential elections, Mulbah received a devastating whip by Montserrado District #8 Representative Dave Koomey. Being frustrated by this genuine whip, Mulbah went on to the party’s convention vowing for the Assistant Secretary General position in the National leadership.

Again, the delegates punished him with their votes.

As the 2005 general and presidential elections got on its way, Mulbah with the expression of pity beg to operate with Madam Cooper who was elected to head the Press Bureau of the CDC. It was at this point General Morlu was instructed to go on series of operations but to the dismay of his co-workers he began a solo operation. The campaign was ended and we went on to protest the result. We took the cadres, women, elders, lawmakers and revolutionaries with us in the match and the strategy was for C. Mike Doryen (Montserrado Chairman), Sidiki Fofana (National Youth League Chairman), some lawmakers, few elders, the women league and others to keep the peaceful protest in the thematic order of non-jungle justice. Amb. Weah kept reminding us of the legal path which was to take our case to the National Election Commission, the commission whose head, Cllr. Francis Johnson Morris was accused of stealing “the cookies from the cookies jar”. There was serious political tension throughout the 38,000 sq miles of the nation-state Liberia, disarmament has just ended, emotions were high, and the pronounced victors of the presidency and her partisans were not celebrating, as celebration is an integral part of election victory.

Many of our partisans kept the pressure on us to reject a Sirleaf Presidency since she also did same to the late Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. Some of our collaborators kept quiet, while others demanded a final statement from Amb. Weah. By this time, we were on our way to the Supreme Court and the Liberians state was experiencing bitter exchanges amongst it inhabitants. Amb. Weah is not only a politician and a former soccer legend but we have all extol him as a peacemaker, the reconciler and the true unifier. With these attributes compatriots James Kollie, Samuel D. Tweah, Mulbah K. Morlu and the rest of the CDCEANS kept the most so-called educated elites in our society running for their money.

Understanding the history of the after effects of presidential elections in our country, coupled with the path of blood bath and extreme devastation, we met as leaders of our party with many of our allies and debated. The forum included Dr. Tipoteh, the late Baccus Matthew, Professor Alhaji G.V. Kromah, and Amb. Weah, the CDC leadership and General Morlu who was privileged to have been taken in by Amb. Weah. The forum was climaxed with a consensus to abandon any further legal or political action. The next day Amb. Weah spoke to the press on our decision to save the Liberian state and move on with our lives. We all applauded him as a true patriot and nationalist but today as hunger and hardship have engulfed militant Mulbah, he has decided to become a bag boy to the misfits and detractors of our noble institution.

It is unfortunate that a piteous boy like general Morlu would become so susceptible and go astray to begin alleging that the Government of Nigeria gave three million United States dollars to the Standard Bearer of the CDC to abandon the court action. If there is one Liberian who has a history of defending Hon. Edwin Melvin Snowe and referencing President Sirleaf as a rebel president, the name Mulbah K. Morlu will take superlative over all others.

There are available recordings, newspaper articles and internet reports to show how Mulbah went on the extreme to defend Hon. Snowe. When did General Morlu get to know that Weah traded this position? Is it after he took thugs to the Unity Conference Center to attack the representatives or after he sold Hon. Snowe’s computer and can no more see the honorable man in person.

For the speaker’s election, Hon. Edwin Melvin Snowe had an absolute numerical advantage as lawmakers from every political institution saw him as the messiah. Even the initial fifteen representatives of CDC could never hold as a bloc. We were found in a catch 22 situation and had to live with this bizarre by taking the two immediate deputies to former House Speaker Snowe.

Two months ago General Morlu insulted Hon. Snowe, the hands that fed him and today he has turned on the one he described as “God Sent” and ”manna” for Manneh, the middle name of Amb. Weah.

Today, the Forum for the Establishment of War Crimes Court exists in theory but it remains a pragmatic dead end. Many Liberians embraced this idea as a stand-in to the Truth and Reconciliation Committee but ironically General Morlu is on record to have signed a joint statement with ex-fighters and seeing in open parade with some ex-AFL soldiers which landed him behind bars twice. To have him released, I had to personally get Amb. Weah involve in demanding his right to trial and asking the up led Government to respect his human rights.

As Mulbah K. Morlu remains in a desperate search for political asylum and being the stooge and creature of his creators like the mediocre Wentor and few invisible hands, we will intellectually resist unprincipled men using the CDC as a vehicle for pre-eminence.

Let our friends in the media be cautious that Mulbah K. Morlu and his cohorts are not executives of the CDC and they lack the moral rectitude and political authority they claim to have. The Congress for Democratic Change will be jealously sheltered by its partisans and the few detractors in our midst who think that they will halt the forward march of this party will be sent into deep hole.

Signed: _________________________
Acarous M. Gray
National Assistant Secretary General, CDC