With Liberians, of other political persuasions, too busy tearing each other down (classic crabs in the bucket syndrome) it is impossible to see how any credible candidate can emerge from such a near self annihilation. The recent news of fist fights within the ranks of the CDC partisans in Monrovia is a vivid testimony to the level of rancor that exists in ANY group of Liberians - be it small or large.
It seems our blessing of having too many smart people is a curse after all, because we can never agree on the simplest of things. Take a detailed look at OLM, LCARI and lastly CCL and tell me I am wrong.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 60 )The man Prince Johnson extract a lot of raw emotions from me whenever he is in the news. What I fail to understand is how this notorious individual ever got elected to the Liberian Senate.
I believe he is an icon of continual disrepute on that supposedly august institution - I know there are many others like him in both the senate and house of representatives but this is an individual who played such a major role in handling out deaths, maiming and unimaginable suffering to countless numbers of Liberians that it boggles my mind every time he flaunts his apparent untouchable status.
Mr Johnson recent public altercation with “suspended” education minister Korto leaves much to be desired from a member of the Liberian Senate - but again we are talking about Prince Johnson !
Mr Johnson might feel home free (a false sense of guaranteed impunity) by blaming almost every killings on his base, including that of Tecumsay Roberts - apparently killed because of his sexual orientation - on his dead deputy Samuel Varney but I am sure Liberia is a signatory to both the UN’s Charter against Torture and Geneva Convention regarding humane treatment of prisoners of war.
Mr Johnson “recorded” for the world to see his mutilation and subsequent murder of Samuel Doe. I am sure there is a way to hold my Johnson at the very least accountable for some of his actions.
While parading himself as a senator, Mr Johnson should NOT in any instance believe he is above the laws of Liberia or assume he is an untouchable ! This undeniably sad “road show” of a human being, it seems has out played its allotted duration on our collective conscience.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 2.9 / 59 )The hues and cries from various quarters regarding the current investigations of alleged financial improprieties at the Ministry of Information brings to the fore our system of governance and begs for immediate alterations in regards to how people are appointed to these sensitive positions.
I work as a manager here in the U.S. Even though I had the required educational qualifications, I was hired and made to undergo a “management training program” for a reasonable period of time. While I was in Ghana I read in the newspapers that appointed Ministers were undergoing training at the Ghanaian Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA).
This is NOT to reduce the significance of their acquired degree(s) but to properly equip them for the task ahead. A minister I believe should know basic accountancy, payroll, budgeting and overall fiscal operations.
For Minister Bropleh to claim forgery and innocence is an indictment on himself. On a monthly basis I review my P&L (profit and loss statement for the uninitiated) to ensure my fiscal operations are in line with our stated budget and question any questionable items it contains.
Is such an operation in place at the Ministry of Information ? Then these apparently “way out of line” spending would have been caught after a month or two. Are the financial officers given total autonomy ? Whereby there is no due diligence demanded in their work because the Minister himself knows almost NOTHING about basic accountancy ? This is alarming and I wonder how many ministries are functioning like this or what else is going on at the Information Ministry that the Minister DOESN’T KNOW about !
On an average year I (a humble refugee) assist in managing between 72 to 120 million dollars of which EVERY PENNY has to be accounted for or else I get TERMINATED !
We do NOT need the GAC to unearth corrupt activities at the Ministry of Information. Minister Bropleh, in my view, is guilty of dereliction of duty and gross negligence.
I will plead with the honorable Minister to do the right thing and resign to avoid further embarrassment been heaped on the government.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 83 )Recent comments attributed to Dr Togba Nah Tipoteh in which he stated that the“(Government) will have itself to blame when unemployment-based violence erupts to worsen the fragile national security situation” is indeed a cause for concern to every peace-loving Liberian.
Most Liberians might see the outright foolishness of such a reckless statement and try to dismiss it with a wave of the hand but in contemporary Liberia, extra care must be taken against such imprudent pronouncements.
Dr Tipoteh statement was NOT only divisive but clearly intended to sow seeds of discord that could manifest themselves through chaos and/or violence. Liberia is one of the few countries of the world where the government is almost ALWAYS expected to be the LARGEST source of employment. Almost all other forms of private enterprise are left to foreigners while the baser sorts - petty trading - is left for Liberians. This is the trend that needs to be emphasized and reversed via entrepreneurial and business development trainings.
Dr Tipoteh is no stranger to Liberian politics. He and a few like minded colleagues of his are largely responsible for the demise of the modern Liberian state.
I believe Dr Tipoteh could do more by positively encouraging and empowering Liberians with entrepreneurial competence(s) in order to reduce the overdependence on the government for jobs.
Finally, I would humbly plead with Dr Tipoteh to first complete the interminable job he started at SUSUKU - make it a model of democracy where he is NOT the ETERNAL head, then he can focus on the government‘s inability to create jobs. It is sad to see the Lion of MOJA now reduced to a cantankerous kitten.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 2.9 / 110 )I would firstly like to congratulate the President, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, for the great job done so far in steering the state of affairs in Liberia. Your steadfast stewardship was aptly recognized by the results of the recent international poll conducted by Afrobarometer that confirmed your high approval ratings amongst Liberians despite the great odds with which you are faced.
I will plead with your Excellency to please consider appointing some of your "perceived" critics to leadership positions in your government. This bold move I believe will strengthen checks and balances in our system of governance. Our level of tolerance of dissent says a lot about our political maturity and firm desire for the greater good of our country! I would urge your Excellency to please replace Dr Amos Sawyer with Dr Emmanuel Dolo as the Chairman of the Governance Reform Commission. Under Sawyer this all-important commission is all but dormant !
Guinea and the AU
News of sanctions placed on Guinea by ECOWAS is reverberating around the Internet. I am wondering if there are detail “ worst case scenarios” plans afoot from ALL parties pilling the pressure on this despicable junta. We all witness the massacres in Rwanda after the collapse of the Hutu government. While all the political shenanigans were going on, NO ONE had a credible and effective plan to intervene once law and order collapsed. The news of ethnic tensions running high in Guinea should alarm us all and compel us to formulate effective intervention strategies (military or otherwise) if this junta collapse suddenly under it own weight. It is also shocking to see officials of ECOWAS and the AU patting themselves on the backs when Yahya Jammeh, Paul Biya and recently “elected” Ali Ben Bongo II of Gabon are counted within their ranks !
et tu Bropleh ?
The Minister of Information, Culture Affairs & Tourism, Dr. Laurence Bropleh is embroiled in the ultimate struggle for his political life. While this saga is currently been investigated, I would caution all interested parties to exercise restraint until official findings are announced. We should all afford Dr Bropleh the right of innocence until proven otherwise. I hope this shameful episode will mark the turning point for unscrupulous officials - Remember, whatever is done in the dark must come out to light !
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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