The Guinean junta has not only saber-rattled but has shown its ability to carry out unimaginable violence on its own people. The social experts , on major TV news networks, are quick to suggest that we are dealing with an eccentric character who would last only a few months on the scene before been consumed by a palace coup d'etat.
I vividly remember the same predictions been made about the Gambian despot Jammeh who have now graduated from a tin can dictator to AIDS Healer.
It seems the Junta has thrown us all into a dangerous psychological game in which its leader, captain Moussa Dadis Camara, holds all the trump cards. The Guinean people and the entire world can only helplessly wait with bated breath as the Junta makes its next move.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 2.9 / 74 )FrontPage Africa's recent article titled "We Are Winning War on Corruption' Auditor General Morlu Declares" was not a shocking declaration to me or many supporters of the present administration in Liberia. I believe to the many opponents of the government in Liberia, the Diaspora and on the Internet, it was indeed shocking news ! It is common knowledge that corruption is rampant in Liberia but we should all consider how and why this is happening.
I believe the starting point for this needed reversal is a strong look in the mirror. Rethinking our attitudes, perceptions of a government job and our collective sense of morality.
The political system in Liberia, for a long time, has operated under “grand ole benefactor(ism)“. Our leaders were either deeply involved in shady deals with principal operatives or vice versa - all the way to the very top ! These scenarios made it almost impossible to dismiss corrupt operatives/officials for fear of being exposed.
We all can remember Samuel Doe infamous dismissal of the 14 American financial experts, the mysterious fire at the Finance Ministry under Alvin Jones and the never ending recycling of political rethreads - politicians who only desire is/was a political appointment - even though their competence were questionable. To many observers it seemed misfits were constantly rewarded for their bad behavior and/or incompetence.
This current administration stands out for agreeing to the very GAC been implemented. I believe this is a testimony of its desire to fight corruption. What is needed I believe is for bodies similar to the “Serious Fraud Office in Ghana” to be set up. The Ghanaian SFO has the authority not only to unearth corrupt acts but to prosecute their perpetrators. I would love to see an expansion of the GAC mandate to include a prosecutorial arm.
No one expects AG Morlu to sing praises of the government, in this war against corruption, but to continue to do his part in the fight against waste, abuse and the blatant betrayal of the public trust, indeed in the cause of the people the struggle must continue !
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 106 )Paul Jackson piece titled "Ten Striking Similarities Between Charles Taylor and Prez Johnson-Sirleaf" begs to be treated with all the contempt it deserves but reasoning demands some rebuttal to remind Mr Jackson that an aura of impunity does not exists around him.
To go into the details of Mr Jackson's diatribe will bore readers of this rebuttal. The bottom-line is that we should ALL endeavor to be civil in our political debates no matter our political views or the degree of our opposition to the existing government’s policies or actions. I choose only to react to Mr Jackson's charge of nepotism - it seems Mr Jackson sees Augustine Ngafuan, Tiawon Gongloe and many others indigenous Liberians serving in the current government as fulfillments of President Johnson-Sirleaf self-made diversity quota!!!???
I do NOT know Mr Jackson political beliefs or leanings but I am sure that he will expect maximum respect be accorded to whomever he supports that assumes the presidency.
A good example is the American public’s reaction to the harsh and sometimes apparently prejudiced opposition by Republicans extremists to current US president, Barack Obama - a democrat. Suddenly we have ALL regained our sensibilities and forgotten the stage that was set by the Democrats in their harsh opposition to former president Bush - the most vilified president ever !
Mr Jackson, while dissent is good it should be done within the confines of reason and civility. Remember we all are expected to respect the office of the presidency no matter the level of our disagreements - by so doing we will NOT reduce the eminent status of the office, no matter who occupies it.
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 103 )It seems the Liberian opposition and their minions operating on the Internet cannot come to terms with the recent positive news Liberia has received regarding its GDP and the Human Development Index. We all can be assured that if the new were negative it would have amounted to one more weapon in the arsenal of the opposition to cast the government in a negative light.
As a people we should be courageous enough to give praises where it is due and offer condemnations when condemnable acts are committed. Before going forward a brief definition/explaination of the GDP and HDI and what these positive statistics means for Liberia.
What is GDP ?
The gross domestic product (GDP) or gross domestic income (GDI) is a basic measure of a country's economic performance and is the market value of all final goods and services made within the borders of a country in a year . It is a fundamental measurement of production and is very often positively correlated with the standard of living.
The Human Development Index (HDI)
Is an index used to rank countries by level of "human development", which usually also implies whether a country is developed, developing, or underdeveloped.
The HDI combines normalized measures of life expectancy, educational attainment, and GDP per capita for countries worldwide. It is claimed as a standard means of measuring human development—a concept that, according to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), refers to the process of widening the options of persons, giving them greater opportunities for education, health care, income, employment, etc.
The HDI combines three dimensions:
- Life expectancy at birth, as an index of population health and longevity
- Knowledge and education, as measured by the adult literacy rate (with two-thirds weighting) and the combined primary, secondary, and tertiary gross enrollment ratio (with one-third weighting).
- Standard of living, as measured by the natural logarithm of gross domestic product per capita at purchasing power parity. (http://hdr.undp.org/en/)
With the above definitions, one is confounded as to why the opposition is adamant in their qualification of the conclusions of these prestigious international institutions data as FLAWED.
The Liberian Auditor General also joined the fray with the quote below during his recent speech to members of the Press Union of Liberia, “organizations including the International Monetary Fund (IMF) have reported increase in the GDP of Liberia over the past years but there is still low standard of living”. A clear indication that the data does not represent the facts !
The central theme in these measurements is the government’s creation of a conducive atmosphere where vibrant commercial activities can occur. There is a semblance of the rule of law and the relentless war against full scale corruption is been waged
I will urge EVERY LIBERIAN to collectively support our government in what ever way, shape of form we can to ensure our nation, like the fabled phoenix, rise from the ashes and regain her place in the comity of nations of the world.
Long live Liberia !
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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( 3 / 82 )Liberia’s Auditor General John S. Morlu, II recent speech to members of the Press Union of Liberia during the observation of its 45th anniversary celebration held in Gbarnga, Bong County was just one more of the same rhetoric we are used to hearing from critics of the current government.
To go into the details of Mr Morlu speech will bore readers of this piece. What I found missing from Mr Morlu speech was concrete suggestions regarding the establishment of effective anti-corruption mechanisms - be them legislations, specific punishment(s) or otherwise.
The talk of widespread corruption within this government is becoming trite. Political appointments, Mr Morlu, you and I know are a fact of life - elections do have consequences ! The President, I believe is doing everything within her powers to wage an apparent losing battle against this canker - corruption. The most recent example been the superintendent of Grand Cape Mount County.
Liberians from all walks of life will have to look within to purge ourselves of this anomaly. While Mr Morlu is indeed a brilliant technocrat, it is becoming obvious that he is no orator.
The public would have been better served if Mr Morlu had admonished the PUL to place truth on the highest rung of its ladder and bring punitive actions to bear on its members who dabble in falsehood and sensationalism for profit.
Lastly, Mr Morlue your shirt was indeed brilliant - literally
Benjamin Kofa Fyneah
Gainesville, Florida
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