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Archive for July, 2013

Tribalism: A Catch-22 accusation in Liberian discourse

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor people, budget and government

 

The pamphleteer, Thomas Paine, author of ‘Common Sense’ often referred to as a “dreamer and patriot in American History” wrote in his Dissertation about the First Principles of Government. Paine wrote. “He that would make his own liberty secure must guard even his enemy from oppression; for if he violates this duty, he establishes a precedent which will reach himself.” Not to be outdone, George Orwell followed with this statement: “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.” That being said, the truth is what my article is about.

I have dedicated my life to the service of humanity from a very young age, because Jesus Christ instructed us to be “fishers’ of men (women),” and to be our brothers/sisters’ keeper. Therefore, I never pay attention to the advice, “Your leave the people’s thing alone” and “Mind your business” that old folks used to give us when we were growing up in Liberia. Perhaps, this is the reason I have been blessed by God to see my 66th birthday and to be among the living.

What old folks used to tell us in the past is happening today. There are many people amongst us who have taken “Your leave the people’s thing alone” and “Mind your business” to another level. These so-called new ‘patriots’ interpret every disagreement as either regional or tribal; which I believe is a “Catch-22” Web. It is regarding this new “Catch-22” discourse among Liberians that this article, ‘Tribalism: A Catch 22 Accusation in Liberian Discourse’ is written.

My purpose for writing this article is to identify the main reason these new ‘patriots’ are waging cyber assaults against those of us who are speaking truth about corruption, abuse of power, nepotism, and the violation of the Liberian Constitution by the President of Liberia and other elected government officials.

It is my honest belief that as citizens and writers, we have a responsibility to address social maladies such as corruption and the abuse of power by taking a firm position in speaking out against these social maladies that have made our country an unsafe place to live today. We must speak against these social maladies in order to offer a different approach or a better choice for those who are engaged in these practices. The “Catch-22” scheme is designed to prevent this conversation from taking place.

First, let me define the phrase, “Catch-22” for those who are not familiar with it. The Free Dictionary online defines Catch-22 as: 1) A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions; 2) a situation in which a person is frustrated by a paradoxical rule or set of circumstances that preclude any attempt to escape from them, and 3) a situation or predicament characterized by absurdity or senselessness. (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/Catch-22)

The political cartoon, permission from Jordan Porompyae) “The People, Budget & the Government,” clearly illustrates the plight in which the Liberian people find themselves today. There are many among us who see nothing wrong with the crimes that our government officials are committing against our people as deplorable. This behavior is nothing new. From the beginning of time, there have been two competing forces; forces that deal with gravity as observed in physics: “what goes up must come down.” This concept of being FOR and AGAINST can be found in everything we do as human beings. For example, in any debate, be it in our social organizations or politics, there are those who hold a particular view point and those with the opposing view point. Without this interaction taking place, life as we know it today would be boring and not meaningful.

As a matter of fact in most organizations or governments, the individual most people hate to see ask questions they dare not ask, or whose point of view causes confusion and anxiety in the group, in some cases is the person who makes the most valuable contributions to the discussion. We find this practice in a democratic environment where there are two competing groups. A good example is the Republican and Democrat parties in the United States. On issues that involve national or international policy, both parties debate the issues to come up with the best policy. To me, such a debate is in the best interest of the country.

However, in most Liberian debates, it is the exact opposite. In a forum or debate in which Liberians are involved, there is this tendency to accuse the other person of engaging in the practice of tribalism because he/she agrees with the person of his tribal background. This is a common practice among Liberians on the Liberian listserves. Those who do so perhaps would like to live in a society where there are no tribes. I find this to be against God’s plan. The God who created us in His own image said, “It is good!” after He finished creating us. In fact, tribe is part of His original design. Therefore, I find arguments that are against tribal relationships to be baseless and are in opposition to God’s plan.

Therefore, those who accuse others of this practice have turned their arguments into a “Catch-22” web — “A situation in which a desired outcome or solution is impossible to attain because of a set of inherently illogical rules or conditions.” Because if I agree with a person from my tribe on an issue, I am called a tribalist; and if I disagree with a person from another tribe, I am still considered a tribalist. This is the world those who operate from this mindset would like for all of us to operate from. I find this argument illogical and far from being practical. Such a world exists only in the fragment of their imagination; better put, a utopian state of mind.

In the real world, there will always be these two competing forces interacting with each other – those who are for, and those who are against for different set of reasons. Humanity has come this far due to this interaction. If God had intended it to be the other way around He would have micro managed our affairs. Instead, He gave us “Free Will.” He left it to us to either do good or engage in activities that are wrong. Therefore, calling a person you disagree with tribalist will not change that person’s way of thinking. It is a waste of one’s time and energy to continue to behave in this way.

This brings me to the second phase of my article. For the purpose of our discussion, let me pose the following questions: 1) Where have the former or ‘old progressives’ gone or been? 2) How can these former ‘progressive’ comrades remain silent and disengage when the wrong practices they forcefully spoke and organized against are being violated with impunity by the Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf government many of them are part of?

Moreover, with all of the corruption going on in Liberia, it surprises me to see that many of us who in the past professed to be ‘progressives’ who once organized the youths, students, workers, market women, the poor, and influenced the masses of the Liberian people to rally against oppressive regimes are now complacent. Rightly so, the young people that the old ‘progressives’ once inspired now see us as assisting the oppressors of our people. I could not agree more with their criticism of us for the fact that there seems to be our disconnection from the struggle for “Rice and Rights,” “In the Cause of the People,” and the clarion call for “Our Eyes are Open, the Time of the People has Come!” What has happened to the struggle? Has it ended or is this a fatigue?

Let us not forget the profound statement by Comrade Frank Fanon many of us used to quote: “Each generation must discover its mission, fulfill it, or betray it…” (The Wretched of the Earth) Have we betrayed our mission?

Time is against us! If we do not step up to the plate to redeem ourselves by speaking truth to power, history and the generation our advocacy influenced will judge us harshly. Therefore, the time has come for the ‘old progressives’ to either continue to assist the oppressors and their cycles of kleptomaniacs, or lend their voices to the voiceless majority to get these shameless rogues and rampant corrupt officials off the backs of the Liberian people. This is an obligation! If the ‘old progressives’ — you know who you are do not step up to the plate, you must as well remain silent and irrelevant, because your explanation for remaining silent will be meaningless.

In addition, it is about time for organizations in the diaspora to stand up for the Liberian people. I salute the Movement of Liberians Against Corruption (MOLAC), the Minnesota-based group that planned the July 26 protest rally against the Minister of Finance, Amara Konneh, who served as orator for the occasion in Minnesota. It has been too long since Liberians and their organizations in the Diaspora held the President of Liberia and the officials of government accountable for the gross mismanagement of the country’s wealth and resources. Instead, when these government officials come to the United States, county associations and chapters of the once progressive Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) gave these officials red carpet treatment without engaging them into serious discussions about the plight of the Liberian people at home. This has become the practice since Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf took office.

Recently, in defense of President Johnson-Sirleaf, one of her diehard supporters – a Reverend wrote on the Liberian listserv that the USD $13 Million “is not missing per se but was not correctly used as was designated.” What’s the difference? I find it difficult to understand such an excuse. The Good Book reminds us in Proverb 14: 31-32 that “If you oppress poor people, you insult God who made them; but kindness shown to the poor is an act of worship. And that, “Wicked people bring about their own downfall by their evil deeds, but good people are protected by their integrity.” Therefore, you who support the oppressors an remain silence when the poor are being abused and exploited will be considered siding with the oppressors, and this makes you the same as the oppressors.

Recent history has proven that Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf and her government has surpassed the practice of corruption, abuse of power, nepotism, tribalism, cronyism, the lack of transparency and the misappropriation of the country’s wealth, land and mineral resources without regards to the Liberian masses. As a matter of fact, a Liberian human rights activist referred to the President in this manner: “President Sirleaf surpassed former Liberian Presidents [Tolbert, Doe, Taylor, and Bryant], whom she criticized, undermined and plotted against in the past. She earned the distinction as the most corrupt president of Liberia since JJ Roberts.” [The 1st President of the country]

As a final point, I believe change does not mean mere reform or the replacement of one leader with another. Putting old wine in new bottle does not make the old wine new. To change means to depart from repeating the same old wrong practice. In other words, an old rogue and a new rogue are the same. The only difference is, one is old and the other is new. The effect is the same for the poor citizens whose conditions either remains the same, or becomes ‘worser’ as we say in Liberia.

 

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is a poet, a Griot, journalist, cultural and political activist, and an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is a retired Mental Health/Developmental Disability Specialist. Currently, he serves as Chair of ULAA’s Eminent Persons, Inc. Mr. Nyanseor is co-founder and treasurer of the Liberian History, Education, and Development (LIHEDE), Inc., an organization dedicated to promoting indigenous Liberian history and the advancement of human and civil rights of Liberians. Also, he is the Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF); publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine, and serves as Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology. He has a BSW in Social Administration and MBA in Management. He can be reached at: [email protected].

July 28, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Open letter to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

By D. Garkpe Gedepoh Johnson Sirleaf's Nepotism

 

Mrs. Johnson-Sirleaf,

The recent state of affairs in our country seems very troubling and despicably disheartening. We have seen the return of social injustice and corruption in government, as well as your lieutenants embezzling state coffers with impunity while thousands of Liberians languish in abject poverty. It is apparent that you have no desire to curb down on these unhealthy vices that has the propensity to re-create a chaotic atmosphere in our already fragile country.

The little peace that we’ve enjoyed over the years was extended to us by the United Nations as a courtesy to help us rebuild our country, but you snatched the responsibility to steer the republic for seven years. Then you became reluctant and fail to put functional and transparent institutions in place. You have also chose the older order instead. And worst of all, you deliberately refused to prosecute your friends and relatives who embezzled state funds.

Furthermore, our disenfranchised youth majority have repeatedly requested your attention in this matter, but to no avail. They respectfully submitted their grievances to you through our elders, religious leaders, chiefs, and even your vice president. But once again, you and your lieutenants seem to display a passive-aggressive attitude to their cries and ignored their legitimate complaints. And so Liberians continue to cry for justice by staging demonstrations to protest their disatisfaction against your government. Your behavior seems to indicate that there’s nothing wrong with nepotism,
rampant corruption or social injustice.

Moreover, you continue to give us bogus reasons to justify why your children, relatives and friends should be placed in high government positions, thus redefining nepotsm to suit your monarchic-trusteeship-imperialistic-presidenty, which is flanked with some international criminal gangs to purposely embroil the nation and deplete our natural resources even further.
You seem to have no room for God or moral consciousness to align your spirit to do the right thing. And so, you are doing exactly what you had planned some 35 years ago: self aggrandizement.

Ellen, you know fully well that interjecting God into your soul would have given you some sort of moral consciousness, which would have shifted your wicked and diabolical plans for Liberia to compel you to do the right thing. But you have chosen to
uphold the old order to the detriment and suffering of the Liberian people. So regardless of how much money the world contribute to the development of the Liberian economy, the economy remains stagnant. More than 17.5 billion dollars has been dumped in Liberia, a country with barely has 4 million people. You even authorized one of your cronies in your government to disseminate misleading and erroneous unemployment information in which he reportedly quoted the unemployment rate to have dropped from 80% to less than 10% during your seven-year rule.

We have seen the recycling of your corrupt lieutenants, friends, and relatives in the name of “cabinet reshuffle”, pretty
much like what we say in Liberia, “putting old soup in new bowls”. You misled your supporters to think that you had the political will power to make a difference; and so they began to call you “the iron lady”. But unfortunately, you continue to dash their hopes, and the dreams of many Liberians who had long for a better Liberia after many years of uncertainty, which you created when you sponsored Charles Taylor to desecrate Liberia and plunder our resources.

You knew exactly what you were doing when you decided to orchestrate a civil war for Liberia. You were bent on making our country a trust territory with no real national army or security in place for you and your cohorts to loot our natural resources.

God is not partial. He gave you the chance to do what you said on the BBC in 1990, when you told Charles Taylor to level Monrovia, and we (you and Charles Taylor) will rebuild it. Rebuild it? Ellen, you can’t even manage Monrovia. You have failed miserably. And the U.S. considers your era to be an extension of Charles Taylor’s criminal empire. If your lieutenants are wise
enough to read the writings on the wall they will take the nearest exit and leave your corrupt administration alone.

The United Nations said they have expanded more than 17.5 billion dollars in Liberia. Where did it go? Do you have a break down of the 17 billion dollars? Don’t tell me it went to road projects in Liberia, because we could have built 10 highways around the country, water and electric plants, modern international airport, stimulated the economy, and still have plenty left to expand on higher education. So, how was the funds expanded? HOW?

You have denied our people basic social services, and more importantly, basic health services. You take the liberty of flying out of Liberia to seek medical attention in other countries while leaving our hospitals to be poorly managed, and in some cases managed by some of your incompetent friends.

Tell me, how many times have you visited the John F. Kennedy Hospital or other hospitals and clinics in Liberia during your seven-year jamboree? You drive by J. F. K. many times during the week - that is if you are not in the air to an unknown destination that only God knows, where and why.

Today, most of our citizens who desperately need medical services fall short by seeking attention from John F. Kennedy Hospital. Liberians continue to refer to J. F. K. Hospital as meaning, “Just for killing”, because of the poor medical services the hospical provides. So Ellen, where is your heart? Do you have a conscience? Under these circumstances your name ‘The iron lady’ description fits you perfectly because you are heartless, and you do have an iron heart.

You took an exception to John Morlu’s claim that your administration was ten times more corrupt than Charles Taylor and Samuel Doe combined. Do you still intend to trash his findings? You lack the clear-cut vision to resuscitate the economic life of the nation; unable to empower the Liberian people; you’re shortsighted.

Africa has lots of decent women, but you were able to manipulate the political stage in Liberia to masquerade as the first African female president. What a pity? You claimed greatness in your book, but let me ask you Ms. Sirleaf, great in what context? What’s your definition for great? Hitler destroyed so many lives. Was he great? You orchestrated a war that destroyed so many lives just like Hitler comparatively, taking into consideration the population of Liberia. Have you asked God for His mercy? Have you truly asked the Liberian people to forgive you for your horrific style of annihilation? Do you still think you’re a great person?

You have become a tyrant and refused to look in the mirror. You have admitted to having knowledge of the 2005 fraudulent elections, which worked out in your favor. You also have the results of the 2011 elections, which still speak volumes. Former U. S. President Nixon had to resign because of “Water Gate”. Do you even have an ounce of his consciousness? NO… You don’t. No wonder why you have been behaving like a monarch in a make shift democracy where a senior senator tells the world that he got you and the elections chairman to manipulate elections results. Do you really call yourself our leader? Are you a dictator or tyrant?

Mahatma Gandhi said: “When I despair, I remember that all through history, the way of truth and love has always won. There have been tyrants and murderers, and for a time they can seem invincible, but in the end they always fall. Think of it, always. Whenever you’re in doubt of God’s will, the way the world is meant to be, think of it, and then try to do it His way.” Self aggrandizement is not the Liberian way. Is it? Do you think God’s will for Liberia is for you to mulct the nation with impunity of its wealth and natural resources?

Sad to say, but I have absolutely no respect for your kind who hides behind her gender to make our country a haven for economic genocide, while clinging on to avaricious self aggrandizement. Get out!! You and your cohorts or so-called progressives took us for a ride for 35 long years; you had more than seven years to purge yourself and your crony, Amos Sawyer, who had five years but did nothing.
Get out! RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.

This is not a request but a divine revelation for you. Pray and you will get your confirmation! Your position as Commander-In-Chief of Liberia is spiritually terminated with immediate effect, because you never had the right spirit to do the right thing for Liberia.

GET OUT! THE LIBERIAN PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN, YOU MUST RESIGN IMMEDIATELY.
You will be charged for economically sabotaging the state. You will have your day in court. And I pray that God keeps you healthy and alive for your trial. You will be prosecuted for economic genocide against the republic in the presence of international observers.

May Almighty God bless our glorious land of liberty and put
our nation on the right path.

I remain a Liberian forever

D. Garkpe Gedepoh is the Publisher and CEO of African Panorama

 

 

July 28, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Theme: "Who will stand in the gap for Liberia?" A July 26, 2013 Pastoral Letter to Churches in Liberia

By Rev. Dr. William B. G. K. Harris Rev. William BGK Harris - ICF

 

SUB-THEME: “What It Takes To Stand In The Gap!“

Lessons: Ezekiel 22:23-31; Proverb 3:1-12; Matthew 28:19-20; Job 1:9-10

Text: ” Ezekiel 22:30- And I sought for a man among them that should make upthe hedge, and stand in the gap before Mefor the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. On July 26, 2013, Liberia will be celebrating her one hundred and sixty-sixth independence day. From 1847 to the present, the nation has faced many challenges including a deadly 1980 military coup d’etat and almost 15 years of a brutal and senseless civil war. The war destroyed lives, infrastructures, properties, moral values and much more. Nevertheless, by the power of God and the assistance of ECOWAS and the international community, Liberia was given a second change; elections were held that ushered in our first African female president, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

After her first six-year term, she was re-elected to lead for another six more years. To her credit, she has done some good things like being instrumental in dealing with our huge international debts but the problems of the nation are still challenging and growing worse daily. A few examples include but not limited to the decaying educational system, high illiteracy and unemployment, the basic essentials such as lights, quality hospital services, well designed and built roads, coupled with high corruption that runs amok in high and low places; government officials and the legislature are earning fat US dollar salaries while teachers and other civil servants are challenged financially with Liberian dollars and there are mountains of moral and social problems. These concerns and others leave one to wonder where we are we going as a nation.

As we celebrate this July 26, is there a parallel between Liberian and the Children of Israel who kept forgetting to obey God after they were delivered from bondage and oppression but went back to doing the very things that sent them into bondage? When a critical view is taken of Liberia, a nation that went through such a brutal war, and we relate it to the cycle of disobedience, oppressions and despair during the days of the Prophet Ezekiel; there seems to be a mirror image of what is going on in the land of Liberia. God is angry with Liberia and wants a person or persons to “stand in the gap”, but there seems to be a void among the “Churches” or a“Church” in Liberia that is willing to serve as the moral vanguard/watchmanon the tower of justice/peace to make up the “hedges” and to “stand in the gap” as stated in Ezekiel 22:30-31.

I would like for you to ponder over these questions for a minute: What would be the outcome if the “Liberian Church” stood in the gap for God?Is it too late to stand in the gap? I also beg to ask this question. Is Jesus Christ crying for Monrovia as He did for Jerusalem?

B. The primary focus of the ministry of Ezekiel the prophet was exposing sins, immorality, and injustice directed at the people where he lived. If it is worldly recognition or popularity we preachers want, we are in the WRONG business. Today, as preachers and teachers of the Word who cry out against the sins of individuals and government officials, will not have it easy. The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that the city of Jerusalem was like a city whose walls were gapped up and broken. You see, the Bible teaches us that “Righteousness exalted a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people.” (Ref. Proverbs 14:34). No double, there is reproach in the land even though we may not know when the end will be, but there are rumblingsand warning signs all around us. Just look at the natural disastersthat we are now seeing on the global stage.

Moreover, I invite you to ponder upon this! A nation may have great wealth, but unless there are men and women who are pure in heart and also fear God, the nation’s defense is gapped and the nation is in great danger. Now listen to this! When you read or hear about some of the things that are going on in Liberia, you will discover that there is a vast ocean of indecency, immoralities, gross poverty, tribalism, oppression, senseless crimes and killings abound. All of these practices point to one thing – violation of the Word of God. Many of us, who call ourselves God’s people, allow materialism, corruption, money, sports, sex, and any number of things to put a gap between ourselves and God. We may not like these words in our politically correct society, but God never said for Christians to be politically correct. He wants us to call sin what it is, SIN. As a reminder, we will reap what we sow, for the wages of sin is death.

C. Today there are thousands of substitutes for the true Gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Over the past 30 years or so, we have seen false teachers who have dupedthe people with teaching of the prosperity gospel, motivational gospel, humanistic philosophies and more as substitute for preaching and teaching of God’s Word. In the past, people went to church for the sole purpose of worshiping the Most High God; but today, the reasons and motives are very different. In fact today,in the midst of our busy daily living in this rat race; so many of us have simply put God right out of our lives. It is now all about what I can amass for myself, instead of standing in the gap for God.

D. Let us dig deeper into our text to gain some insights. First of all, the words were not the word of the Prophet Ezekiel but the Word of God (verse 23). The message was to the people of the land in verse 24 (the children of Israel) who were from exile in Babylon. The message was very specific and clear but also directed to specific people…the classes of society. Firstly…we have the PROPHETS (verses 24/28) who were like roaring lions devouring souls, giving false visions when the Lord had not spoken. Secondly…we have thePRIESTS (verse 26) who were the religious leaders that violated the laws of God and you could not distinguish holy thingsfrom common things. Thirdly…we have PRINCESSES (verse 27) who were the GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS; they were like wolvestearing souls apart, killing people to make unjust gains, greed, and gross corruption. Fourthly…we have the PEOPLE (verse 29) who practiced extortion, committed robbery, and oppressedthe poor, the needy as well as mistreated strangers and foreigners. Those were the people and the charges in those days. Today, these same practices are going on with impunity in Liberia and other nations.

E. All of these and more have made the heart of God very heavy and had intended to pour His wrath upon the land; but he desire to save them if He could find someone to stand in the gap like He asked Abraham when the wickedness ran rampant in Sodom and Gomorrah (Ref. Gen 18:16-33). In the case of Jerusalem, God was looking for someone to make up the hedges and stand in the gap but he could not find any (verse 30). You see, a HEDGE is to be a circular shield of protection but when it is broken, there will be a gap and there will no longer be any defense or protection.

In the case of Job, God placed a hedge around him and it was a shield against the Devil(Ref. Job 1:9-10). In the case of Israel, God wanted someone to make-up the hedge and also stand in the gap for the land but there was no one. However, we need to be very clear about what a person who heels to the call to stand in the gap for God can’t do. That person cannot stand on one foot. To stand in the gap, you can’t be lukewarm. To stand in the gap, you can’t put your hand to the plow and look back. To stand in the gap, you certainly can’t be afraid or have fear; for God did not give us a spirit of fear. (Ref. II Tim 1:7). If you will stand in the gap, you must love justice and mercy, be biased towards the poor. Jesus wasn’t as stated in Luke 4:18. Certainly, there are benefits for standing in the gap, and also, there are conditions that must be met before you can reap the benefit as stated in Proverbs 3:1-2.

Let me warn you! There is no short cut to take if you want to reap the benefits of standing in the gap. In fact, no one can stand in your gap for you! You’ve got a gap and so do I. Now, let us first look at the conditions that must be met.

II. LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS TO BE MET (Proverbs 3:1-12):

A. Don’t Forget The Teachings…(Ref. Prov 3:1a).You see the Word of God never change and should be the source of knowledge and a lamp unto our paths.

B. Keep My Commands…(Ref. Prov 3:1b).You see the Commands of God does not change based on a location or situation and all must be kept…not some or a selected few.

C. Keep Love Bind Around Your Neck…(Ref.Prov 3:3).You see your love should be exhibited and expressed regardless of where you are or who you meet.

D. Trust In The Lord…(Ref. Prov 3:5-11).You see trust in the Lord is to yield to him unconditionally for Him to order your steps and not lean to your own understanding. You also must shut evil and allow God to discipline you.

III. STANDING IN THE GAP BENEFITS (Proverbs 3:1-12):

A. Prolong Life…(Ref. Prov 3:2a).You will get your three scores and ten plus your dash.

B. Have Prosperity…(Ref.Prov 3:2b).You will have the flood gate and windows of heaven open and your blessings and favor will run over.

C. Prolong Life/Favors/Good Name…(Ref. Prov 3:1a/4a).You will get your three scores and ten plus your dash. Besides wining favor, you will have a good name.

D. Straight Path/Good Health/Nourished Bone…(Ref.Prov 3:6a/3:8).You will not have to worry about the curves of life for the path will be straight and you will be in health…have no dry or rotten bones but a merry heart (Ref. Prov 22:17/14:30).

 

IV. DRIVING THE POINT ABOUT STANDING IN THE GAP:

A. My fellow ministers, I don’t know if God has His eyes on you to stand in the gap but you need to get ready and be available for God to use you. If you call Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior because He died to give you abundant life, you must act as his disciple…a fisher of men. You were commissioned in Matthew 28:19-20 andActs 1:8 to go into all the world and make disciples — starting in your Jerusalem, Samaria, Judea and to the uttermost parts of the world. Just like Jesus called the disciples: James, John, Andrew and Peter who dropped their nets; you are called to win souls for the kingdom. God asked Isaiah the question in Isaiah 6:8, “who will go for us”? And the shaking man said: “Here am I Jehovah send me”; which is a model for “The Call”; with this call comes the response, the job description and duration of the call.

B. Fellow Ministers, hear me clearly! God wants men and women who will not only fill the gap but will make up the hedges. You see, standing- just to be standing will NOT do what we are called to do. Standing without acting, is being passive. We must be proactive by speaking the truth about the WRONGS that is being DONE to God’s children. That is standing and filling the gap. Yes indeed, God wants men and women who will spread righteousness and truth, that will counter act the forces of evil that are running wild in the world today.

Let me be sure to plug this in. There is no way that a person can stand in the gap on their own strength. It will take the strength of the Lord for a person to stand in the gap. When you muster the courage to stand, the unlimited power our God will be there to enable you to take a stand for God in our homes, at our jobs, at our churches and, wherever it may be. Hear me loud and clear! God wants a pair of hand, a pair of feet, a pair of eyes, a pair of ear that will stand in the gap for Him, FOR THE LAND!

C. In this regard, may I ask you the following questions: Where do you stand today? Those of you who are in leadership positions in the church, where do you stand? Are you available to go the extra mile for Jesus? Can your little light shine brighter or you have it hidden under the bushes of apathy and fear that the bush will catch on fire? Regarding your dilemma, you should be reminded that God has his eyes on you, and the hub of the matter is this: are you available to go like Ezekiel, Daniel, Nehemiah, Moses, Mother Theresa, Dr. ML King, Jr., Didwho Twe (D. Twe), Albert Porte, Nelson Mandela and many others? Can you declare on this day saying…Here am I Jehovah send me? If you do, remember the reason to stand in the gap is not for selfish gains, a show or just to be standing. You are to preach the Word in and out of season knowing that the wages of sin is death, and the Gift of God is eternal life.

Finally, fellow ministers, we are to be fishers of men; Ambassadors for Christ and doers and hearers of the Word as well as give praises to God. Can I share this with you as you strive to stand in the gap? God can take you from zero and make you a hero (wbgkh) like He did for Ezekiel. Keep the faith and stop focusing on the negatives. More importantly, in all things, give God the praise for your life and the blessings so that He will continue to shower upon you boldness despite your leaning and sleeping while you strive to stand in the gap. Amen.

Pastor Harris is the Founder & Senior Pastor of the International Christian Fellowship, Inc., (ICF) in Atlanta, Georgia. He hails from Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia, and was ordained in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church by the late Bishop James S. Thomas. For three years he served as adjunct professor at Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Harris is a 1973 graduate of Booker Washington Institute (BWI), Liberia, where he received a diploma in Electronics. In 1981, he obtained his BsEE degree in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University, and went on to earn his MDiv degree from the ITC of Atlanta University Center (Gammon Theological Seminary) in 1987. In 2012, Pastor Harris earned his Doctor of Ministry from Adamsville Theological Seminary. Pastor Harris worked for 19 years with GEC Marconi Avionic as an Electrical Engineer in the disciplines of Quality Assurance, Reliability, Testing and Logistic Engineering.

Pastor Harris is a published author of over a dozen books. He is very active in the Liberian community and other communities in Georgia. He has been happily married to the former Queeta Tolbert for 33 years. Their union is blessed with 7 children including triplet daughters and two granddaughters. One of their children (son) died in an automobile accident in 2002. Pastor Harris had a successful kidney transplant August 11, 2011. He and his family reside in Buford, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He can be reached at: [email protected].

 

July 26, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Theme: “Who will stand in the gap for Liberia?” A July 26, 2013 Pastoral Letter to Churches in Liberia

By Rev. Dr. William B. G. K. Harris Rev. William BGK Harris - ICF

 

SUB-THEME: “What It Takes To Stand In The Gap!“

Lessons: Ezekiel 22:23-31; Proverb 3:1-12; Matthew 28:19-20; Job 1:9-10

Text: ” Ezekiel 22:30- And I sought for a man among them that should make upthe hedge, and stand in the gap before Mefor the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.

I. INTRODUCTION:

A. On July 26, 2013, Liberia will be celebrating her one hundred and sixty-sixth independence day. From 1847 to the present, the nation has faced many challenges including a deadly 1980 military coup d’etat and almost 15 years of a brutal and senseless civil war. The war destroyed lives, infrastructures, properties, moral values and much more. Nevertheless, by the power of God and the assistance of ECOWAS and the international community, Liberia was given a second change; elections were held that ushered in our first African female president, Madam Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.

After her first six-year term, she was re-elected to lead for another six more years. To her credit, she has done some good things like being instrumental in dealing with our huge international debts but the problems of the nation are still challenging and growing worse daily. A few examples include but not limited to the decaying educational system, high illiteracy and unemployment, the basic essentials such as lights, quality hospital services, well designed and built roads, coupled with high corruption that runs amok in high and low places; government officials and the legislature are earning fat US dollar salaries while teachers and other civil servants are challenged financially with Liberian dollars and there are mountains of moral and social problems. These concerns and others leave one to wonder where we are we going as a nation.

As we celebrate this July 26, is there a parallel between Liberian and the Children of Israel who kept forgetting to obey God after they were delivered from bondage and oppression but went back to doing the very things that sent them into bondage? When a critical view is taken of Liberia, a nation that went through such a brutal war, and we relate it to the cycle of disobedience, oppressions and despair during the days of the Prophet Ezekiel; there seems to be a mirror image of what is going on in the land of Liberia. God is angry with Liberia and wants a person or persons to “stand in the gap”, but there seems to be a void among the “Churches” or a“Church” in Liberia that is willing to serve as the moral vanguard/watchmanon the tower of justice/peace to make up the “hedges” and to “stand in the gap” as stated in Ezekiel 22:30-31.

I would like for you to ponder over these questions for a minute: What would be the outcome if the “Liberian Church” stood in the gap for God?Is it too late to stand in the gap? I also beg to ask this question. Is Jesus Christ crying for Monrovia as He did for Jerusalem?

B. The primary focus of the ministry of Ezekiel the prophet was exposing sins, immorality, and injustice directed at the people where he lived. If it is worldly recognition or popularity we preachers want, we are in the WRONG business. Today, as preachers and teachers of the Word who cry out against the sins of individuals and government officials, will not have it easy. The prophet Ezekiel proclaimed that the city of Jerusalem was like a city whose walls were gapped up and broken. You see, the Bible teaches us that “Righteousness exalted a nation, and sin is a reproach to any people.” (Ref. Proverbs 14:34). No double, there is reproach in the land even though we may not know when the end will be, but there are rumblingsand warning signs all around us. Just look at the natural disastersthat we are now seeing on the global stage.

Moreover, I invite you to ponder upon this! A nation may have great wealth, but unless there are men and women who are pure in heart and also fear God, the nation’s defense is gapped and the nation is in great danger. Now listen to this! When you read or hear about some of the things that are going on in Liberia, you will discover that there is a vast ocean of indecency, immoralities, gross poverty, tribalism, oppression, senseless crimes and killings abound. All of these practices point to one thing – violation of the Word of God. Many of us, who call ourselves God’s people, allow materialism, corruption, money, sports, sex, and any number of things to put a gap between ourselves and God. We may not like these words in our politically correct society, but God never said for Christians to be politically correct. He wants us to call sin what it is, SIN. As a reminder, we will reap what we sow, for the wages of sin is death.

C. Today there are thousands of substitutes for the true Gospel of the saving grace of Jesus Christ. Over the past 30 years or so, we have seen false teachers who have dupedthe people with teaching of the prosperity gospel, motivational gospel, humanistic philosophies and more as substitute for preaching and teaching of God’s Word. In the past, people went to church for the sole purpose of worshiping the Most High God; but today, the reasons and motives are very different. In fact today,in the midst of our busy daily living in this rat race; so many of us have simply put God right out of our lives. It is now all about what I can amass for myself, instead of standing in the gap for God.

D. Let us dig deeper into our text to gain some insights. First of all, the words were not the word of the Prophet Ezekiel but the Word of God (verse 23). The message was to the people of the land in verse 24 (the children of Israel) who were from exile in Babylon. The message was very specific and clear but also directed to specific people…the classes of society. Firstly…we have the PROPHETS (verses 24/28) who were like roaring lions devouring souls, giving false visions when the Lord had not spoken. Secondly…we have thePRIESTS (verse 26) who were the religious leaders that violated the laws of God and you could not distinguish holy thingsfrom common things. Thirdly…we have PRINCESSES (verse 27) who were the GOVERNMENTAL OFFICIALS; they were like wolvestearing souls apart, killing people to make unjust gains, greed, and gross corruption. Fourthly…we have the PEOPLE (verse 29) who practiced extortion, committed robbery, and oppressedthe poor, the needy as well as mistreated strangers and foreigners. Those were the people and the charges in those days. Today, these same practices are going on with impunity in Liberia and other nations.

E. All of these and more have made the heart of God very heavy and had intended to pour His wrath upon the land; but he desire to save them if He could find someone to stand in the gap like He asked Abraham when the wickedness ran rampant in Sodom and Gomorrah (Ref. Gen 18:16-33). In the case of Jerusalem, God was looking for someone to make up the hedges and stand in the gap but he could not find any (verse 30). You see, a HEDGE is to be a circular shield of protection but when it is broken, there will be a gap and there will no longer be any defense or protection.

In the case of Job, God placed a hedge around him and it was a shield against the Devil(Ref. Job 1:9-10). In the case of Israel, God wanted someone to make-up the hedge and also stand in the gap for the land but there was no one. However, we need to be very clear about what a person who heels to the call to stand in the gap for God can’t do. That person cannot stand on one foot. To stand in the gap, you can’t be lukewarm. To stand in the gap, you can’t put your hand to the plow and look back. To stand in the gap, you certainly can’t be afraid or have fear; for God did not give us a spirit of fear. (Ref. II Tim 1:7). If you will stand in the gap, you must love justice and mercy, be biased towards the poor. Jesus wasn’t as stated in Luke 4:18. Certainly, there are benefits for standing in the gap, and also, there are conditions that must be met before you can reap the benefit as stated in Proverbs 3:1-2.

Let me warn you! There is no short cut to take if you want to reap the benefits of standing in the gap. In fact, no one can stand in your gap for you! You’ve got a gap and so do I. Now, let us first look at the conditions that must be met.

II. LOOKING AT THE CONDITIONS TO BE MET (Proverbs 3:1-12):

A. Don’t Forget The Teachings…(Ref. Prov 3:1a).You see the Word of God never change and should be the source of knowledge and a lamp unto our paths.

B. Keep My Commands…(Ref. Prov 3:1b).You see the Commands of God does not change based on a location or situation and all must be kept…not some or a selected few.

C. Keep Love Bind Around Your Neck…(Ref.Prov 3:3).You see your love should be exhibited and expressed regardless of where you are or who you meet.

D. Trust In The Lord…(Ref. Prov 3:5-11).You see trust in the Lord is to yield to him unconditionally for Him to order your steps and not lean to your own understanding. You also must shut evil and allow God to discipline you.

III. STANDING IN THE GAP BENEFITS (Proverbs 3:1-12):

A. Prolong Life…(Ref. Prov 3:2a).You will get your three scores and ten plus your dash.

B. Have Prosperity…(Ref.Prov 3:2b).You will have the flood gate and windows of heaven open and your blessings and favor will run over.

C. Prolong Life/Favors/Good Name…(Ref. Prov 3:1a/4a).You will get your three scores and ten plus your dash. Besides wining favor, you will have a good name.

D. Straight Path/Good Health/Nourished Bone…(Ref.Prov 3:6a/3:8).You will not have to worry about the curves of life for the path will be straight and you will be in health…have no dry or rotten bones but a merry heart (Ref. Prov 22:17/14:30).

 

IV. DRIVING THE POINT ABOUT STANDING IN THE GAP:

A. My fellow ministers, I don’t know if God has His eyes on you to stand in the gap but you need to get ready and be available for God to use you. If you call Jesus Christ your Lord and Savior because He died to give you abundant life, you must act as his disciple…a fisher of men. You were commissioned in Matthew 28:19-20 andActs 1:8 to go into all the world and make disciples — starting in your Jerusalem, Samaria, Judea and to the uttermost parts of the world. Just like Jesus called the disciples: James, John, Andrew and Peter who dropped their nets; you are called to win souls for the kingdom. God asked Isaiah the question in Isaiah 6:8, “who will go for us”? And the shaking man said: “Here am I Jehovah send me”; which is a model for “The Call”; with this call comes the response, the job description and duration of the call.

B. Fellow Ministers, hear me clearly! God wants men and women who will not only fill the gap but will make up the hedges. You see, standing- just to be standing will NOT do what we are called to do. Standing without acting, is being passive. We must be proactive by speaking the truth about the WRONGS that is being DONE to God’s children. That is standing and filling the gap. Yes indeed, God wants men and women who will spread righteousness and truth, that will counter act the forces of evil that are running wild in the world today.

Let me be sure to plug this in. There is no way that a person can stand in the gap on their own strength. It will take the strength of the Lord for a person to stand in the gap. When you muster the courage to stand, the unlimited power our God will be there to enable you to take a stand for God in our homes, at our jobs, at our churches and, wherever it may be. Hear me loud and clear! God wants a pair of hand, a pair of feet, a pair of eyes, a pair of ear that will stand in the gap for Him, FOR THE LAND!

C. In this regard, may I ask you the following questions: Where do you stand today? Those of you who are in leadership positions in the church, where do you stand? Are you available to go the extra mile for Jesus? Can your little light shine brighter or you have it hidden under the bushes of apathy and fear that the bush will catch on fire? Regarding your dilemma, you should be reminded that God has his eyes on you, and the hub of the matter is this: are you available to go like Ezekiel, Daniel, Nehemiah, Moses, Mother Theresa, Dr. ML King, Jr., Didwho Twe (D. Twe), Albert Porte, Nelson Mandela and many others? Can you declare on this day saying…Here am I Jehovah send me? If you do, remember the reason to stand in the gap is not for selfish gains, a show or just to be standing. You are to preach the Word in and out of season knowing that the wages of sin is death, and the Gift of God is eternal life.

Finally, fellow ministers, we are to be fishers of men; Ambassadors for Christ and doers and hearers of the Word as well as give praises to God. Can I share this with you as you strive to stand in the gap? God can take you from zero and make you a hero (wbgkh) like He did for Ezekiel. Keep the faith and stop focusing on the negatives. More importantly, in all things, give God the praise for your life and the blessings so that He will continue to shower upon you boldness despite your leaning and sleeping while you strive to stand in the gap. Amen.

Pastor Harris is the Founder & Senior Pastor of the International Christian Fellowship, Inc., (ICF) in Atlanta, Georgia. He hails from Suakoko, Bong County, Liberia, and was ordained in the East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church by the late Bishop James S. Thomas. For three years he served as adjunct professor at Beulah Heights Bible College in Atlanta, Georgia. Pastor Harris is a 1973 graduate of Booker Washington Institute (BWI), Liberia, where he received a diploma in Electronics. In 1981, he obtained his BsEE degree in Electrical Engineering from Tuskegee University, and went on to earn his MDiv degree from the ITC of Atlanta University Center (Gammon Theological Seminary) in 1987. In 2012, Pastor Harris earned his Doctor of Ministry from Adamsville Theological Seminary. Pastor Harris worked for 19 years with GEC Marconi Avionic as an Electrical Engineer in the disciplines of Quality Assurance, Reliability, Testing and Logistic Engineering.

Pastor Harris is a published author of over a dozen books. He is very active in the Liberian community and other communities in Georgia. He has been happily married to the former Queeta Tolbert for 33 years. Their union is blessed with 7 children including triplet daughters and two granddaughters. One of their children (son) died in an automobile accident in 2002. Pastor Harris had a successful kidney transplant August 11, 2011. He and his family reside in Buford, Georgia, a suburb of Atlanta. He can be reached at: [email protected].

 

July 26, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

MOLAC deserves our support

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh MOLAC's poster 2013

 

Finance Minister Amara Konneh has been invited (far away from home) by the fragmented Organization of Liberians in Minnesota (OLM), to deliver this year’s July 26 Independence Day oration.

What is obvious to all is the importance of this day often celebrated with much fanfare by Liberians of various social, political and religious stripes, who will assemble in unity in their respective communities to celebrate Liberia’s founding.

On a normal day or year, Konneh’s appearance as guest speaker would have been celebrated because of his sudden and laser-like rise to political power and fame in just a short span of time.

However, this year’s Independence Day is not a normal one for Liberians in Minnesota, and the young finance minister, whose possible appearance there has been dogged by threats of boycott and mass demonstration sponsored by the Movement of Liberians Against Corruption (MOLAC).

MOLAC alleged that Konneh’s hands are tied to the missing $13.5m funds from the EU meant to combat maternity mortality and morbidity in Liberia. As such, they think it is a slap in the face for Liberians to give him a red carpet and a platform to spread the administration’s propaganda to a global audience, even though Konneh is mute about the fund’s whereabout.

Familiar? This is the Sirleaf way. Say nothing, and do nothing when there’s major controversy. Ignore the Liberian people and public sentiments; and hope the controversy dies down and thrown in the forgettable column.

However, according to the Movement of Liberians Against Corruption (MOLAC), Konneh has yet to come clean for his alleged role in the disappearance of those funds; and shouldn’t be given such a prominent role to speak to Liberians on such a historical day.

A decision of this kind by the once obscure group that attempts to highlight, heckle and possibly preclude a prominent government official once considered a “new face’ and a rising star in Liberian politics, for corruption is a bold one that deserves our collective commendations.

And it is about time (wow!) that Liberians stand up to officials in the Sirleaf administration and President Sirleaf herself, for the damage she has done to our country.

Whoever thought the once clean-cut Amara Konneh would be the fall guy for the corrupt, distant, defiant and unaccountable Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and her administration?

Of course, it is no surprise that Konneh is the guy (the trusted confidant of President Sirleaf) whom the administration would rather want to see and hear discuss her fiscal policies, and other policies to diaspora Liberians and others outside of Liberia.

As the president’s point man, Konneh’s public role in defense of Sirleaf’s policies often puts him in the crosshairs of critics, who sees him as another ambitious and opportunistic young man who will do anything to maintain political power, affluence, prestige and fame.

As finance minister, Konneh have access to public funds, which can easily make or break a would-be politician or any seasoned politician, who is not careful of how he or she handles those funds. Unfortunately, Konneh has been linked to the missing funds.

It is about time Liberians – for the sake of the Liberian people and that wonderful country, stand strong and tall in fighting corruption and oppression.

It doesn’t matter which ethnicity or region of Liberia the individual who is alleged to have stolen those public funds hails. What matters is anyone who’s found to have stolen public funds must be ridiculed, boycotted, heckled, extradited and brought to justice, if found guilty of the criminal act.

Liberians who decides to protest what is perceived as a dishonorable conduct of their public official shouldn’t be intimidated, ridiculed, bullied and seen as anti-Muslim, anti-Mandingo or anti-this or anti-that for standing their ground in fighting official corruption in their country.

Unfortunately, some members of Konneh’s ethnic Madingo group see it differently. They wholeheartedly believe Amara Konneh is being publicly shamed because of his Mandingo origin and Muslim faith, which I strongly think is untrue.

What these people – Konneh’s ethnic brethren failed to realize is the fact that Amara Konneh, as Minister of Finance, is open to public scrutiny and public praises if he performs above or below his call of duty.

These individuals are blindly and vehemently defending Amara Konneh, and are not looking at the issues from a broader patriotic perspective, even though Konneh is officially Minister of Finance, Republic of Liberia, and not Minister of Finance for the Mandingo people.

This behavior has led those individuals to carry out a smear campaign against MOLAC’s co-founder and co-leader, Kirkpatrick Weah, whom they want the world to believe allegedly stole money from a chapter of his ethnic RiverGee County association.

It is so true; this is about credibility and judgment. And if Kirkpatrick Weah truly stole money or embezzled funds from his county’s association, it certainly will put a huge dent in his character and public crusade against corruption, even as he point fingers at others.

However, this is not about Kirkpatrick Weah, but a planned protest rally organized by other Liberians in that area against Amara Konneh, and other visiting Liberian government officials.

The pro-Konneh group would have done themselves and the Liberian people a favor and be credible partners against corruption had they not dwell on blind ethnic loyalty, but work to rescue Liberia from the hands of the criminals in the Liberian government.

However, for such a key figure – a close aide to President Sirleaf to maintain his silence even as allegations of perceived corruption swirls around him, shows Amara Konneh, Madame Sirleaf and the Sirleaf administration are not serious about transparency and accountability; but wants to maintain the status quo.

Even if the scheduled protest rally in Minnesota against Konneh is unsuccessful for reasons beyond their control, organizers and planners ought to pat themselves on the back for putting corruption in the Sirleaf administration on the front burner and on a global platform, with Amara Konneh as the poster boy.

This is already victory in my eyes. MOLAC deserves our support.

 

 

 

 

 

July 25, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Mary Broh’s back – the second time? Now what?

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh Mayor Mary Broh

 

Mary Broh is back! Thanks to her good friend Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

To Ellen’s supporters, the controversial Broh is qualified to be mayor, and perhaps the only person in Liberia (in Sirleaf’s mind) who can handily carry out the tasks of cleaning Monrovia.

Now that she’s back we are supposed to celebrate her second coming, and also be reminded of her first tenure, which was marred by one controversy after another leading some to believe that she was gone for good after Sirleaf took her from city hall.

As we know now, Sirleaf did not really fire Mary Broh in the first place; but transferred her to a another job that requires little scrutiny and the attention she had in her previous job that had her clashing at times physically and verbally with the public.

The truth is Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is not about firing her friends. That we know, because the insular Sirleaf cares more about loyalty and little about integrity and governance.

Perhaps putting friends first, which is at the center of her leadership style is the Sirleaf doctrine: “Loyalty, nepotism and friendship trumps doing the right thing for the Liberian people.” That may be her legacy as well.

That attitude was evident in the president’s eagerness to bring Mary Broh back amid the public outcries her reappointment engendered, days or weeks after Madame Sirleaf told the nation that her friend was back.

Liberians from both ends of the political spectrum weighed in on Madame Sirleaf’s decision to reappoint Ms. Broh to this very sensitive position.

As expected, the public is divided. Some sees Madame Sirleaf’s decision as bordering on friendship, while others see Mary Broh as an uncultured ‘general’ whose management style is brutal, condescending and uncivil.

It is unclear whether Mary Broh will be confirmed by the Liberian legislature. If confirmed, however, she once again will be the public face of Monrovia, a city that needs both good public relations and good public manners coming from the top of the most populous and influential city in Liberia’s centralized political system.

From what I have read so far about Mary Broh management style, I have not heard anything about her competence. All I have heard or read so far about this lady is her friendship with Madame Sirleaf, and her in your face rudeness and bullying tactics to get the job done.

However, good governance is not and should not be defined by friendship with a president, tyranny, blustering and a bully behavior.

Mary Broh shouldn’t be applauded for her ‘drill sergeant’ mentality – meaning; she does not have to go in the streets to bully people into cleaning Monrovia, and destroying market stalls. That’s not her job, period!

As an appointed mayor in that centralized government system with no elected city council man and city council woman, Miss. Broh’s job is to lobby her friend, Madame Sirleaf for funds, and work with and convince the imperial president Sirleaf into purchasing equipment and hiring sanitation workers to get the job done.

Who says the city mayor, Mary Broh, supposed to be in the street destroying stalls and humiliating Monrovia residents?

Part of Mary Broh’s or any future mayor’s job is not to patrol the streets to intimidate, insult and physically assault people, but to work with the president to formulate city ordinance policies, code enforcement policies, and write and enforce zoning laws to improve Monrovia.

However, for some Liberians to applaud Mary Broh’s bullying tactics and see her as a ‘general’ who is the only person who can clean Monrovia,” and not see the broader picture in terms of advocating sound policies, enforcing existing laws, and respecting her fellow citizens, is nauseating.

So Liberians, do we really admire and respect tyrants who pull us by our ears and nose, and tear us apart in the name of being benevolent leaders, as it has been in the past?

Mary Broh’s reappointment certainly revealed Madame Sirleaf’s penchant for being friend first and leader second, which is an unfortunate recipe for national uneasiness and ambivalence.

The president’s decision also revealed that she enjoys being defiant, tone deaf to public sentiments, does not believe in accountability, and is not really serious about genuine reconciliation.

That is not leadership.

 

July 19, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

So, what will it take….?

By Emmanuel Abalo Emmanuel_Abalo

In the last few days, a shameful indictment of corruption was handed down and it stained the national pride of the West African state of Liberia.

According to its Global Corruption Barometer for 2013, the anti-corruption non-profit organization Transparency International (TI) based in Berlin, key findings of its survey directly confirms the problem of corruption in Liberia. They are listed as follow:

1.. Bribery is widespread
2.. Public institutions entrusted t protect people suffer the worst levels of
bribery
3.. Government is not thought to be doing enough to hold the corrupt to account
4.. Personal connections are seen as corrupting the public administration
5.. The democratic pillars of society are viewed as corrupt
6.. Powerful groups rather than the public good are judged to be driving
government actions and
7.. People state that they are not ready to change the status quo

The key findings are direct response from Liberians and their personal experiences in dealing with the police, judiciary and influence of government decisions on their lives. Transparency International notes that “…96% of Liberians reported their Legislature was corrupt, also the most in the world.”

Emphasis is on “…the most in the world.”

The indictment of Liberia as one of the most corrupt countries in the world speaks to the pervasive nature of unwholesome practices in all spheres of the life of Liberians; personal, professional, institutional and governmental.

Local and international outrage, and stinging criticisms of the management of national affairs and personal responsibility have all gone unheeded.

Webster Merriam Dictionary defines corruption as:

1.. impairment of integrity, virtue or moral principle
2.. inducement to wrong by improper or unlawful means such as bribery and
3.. a departure from the original or from is pure or correct.

The answer to how Liberia arrived at this shameful designation doesn’t allow for a full treatment in this discussion, nor does the excuse that “we are just emerging from a devastating war” hold true any longer.

Moral Decay and Personal Responsibility

How do Liberians arrive at the decision to always do the right thing, all day, when confronted with making moral decisions? Aside from their religious influence, is there ever a mind-struggle to gravitate towards what is “right” or speak up for what is just?

The moral degradation of the Liberian society is not for lack of efforts of religious and strong national moral examples over time. The lack of personal moral compass translates into the excercise of the lack of morals and ethics in the family, in the community, society and national life. This argument holds true for what is happening in the Liberian society today.

The sad commentary is that high illiteracy, low educational capacity, extreme poverty and the acceptance of “living just for today” have turned the Liberian society into a mad dash to outwit each other by the use of crooked means in all sectors of life.

The development of character and moral exhibition in every facet of one’s life does not happen suddenly or without deliberate effort.

For example, a loose example can be made that if one develops the character of stealing sugar cubes as a child and no deliberate counsel is sought or offered to correct this habit, the individual will steal a warehouse of sugar bags when he/she is older and has the means of doing such.

A conservative approach is to offer that the maintenance and practice of personal and moral responsibility and some religious belief to one self and each other is the wellspring for developing character and a strong compass, which must be nurtured and encouraged as a way to blunt and mitigate the pervasive nature of moral decay and corruption in the Liberian society.

So, Liberians…what will it take to erase the designation of the country being one of the most corrupt nations on the face of the earth?

The American writer Mark Twain once said, “Each must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, and which course is patriotic and which isn’t. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your convictions is to be an unqualified and inexcusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country. Let man label you as they may.
If you alone and the entire nation shall decide one way, and that way be the right way according to your convictions of the right, you have done your duty by yourself and by your country - hold up your head! You have nothing to be ashames of.”

The author resides in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA

July 15, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

In Japan, a person commits suicide every 15 minutes

By Clemente Ferrer suicide

 

Many Americans die from firearms which they use on themselves. Almost 20,000 of the 30,000 deaths by firearms in the United States, were suicides, according to the figures provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reports the New York Times.

The number of suicides has increased by 12% in recent years, and suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people. Suicide attempts with firearms are lethal in 85% of cases.

Wyoming, Montana and Alaska, are the three States with the highest number of suicides, and they are also those with the highest percentage of gun owners. Scientific rhetoric states that “having a gun at home to protect your family, it’s like putting inside your house a time bomb”.

Alexandre Dumas, the famous French writer, said: “The greatest of crimes is suicide, because it is the only one without repentance”.

People die mainly by heart attack or carcinoma. But it is alarming that deaths by suicide and by illnesses of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer’s or dementia, are being placed in front. Suicide is the leading cause of “external” death.

“It is important to emphasize that suicide is a morbid, decadent and coward act” the German filmmaker Oliver Hirschbiegel.

Separating mortality statistics by gender, women succumb to cardiovascular disease, stroke, and swellings. It is followed by cardiac ischemia. However poisonous deaths tumors and breast cancer again be the most harmful, followed by colon cancer. For men, the first is coronary insufficiency. Infarction and angina are the leading cause of death among males.

In terms of countries, Japan is the one with the highest suicide rate in the world, with more than 35,000 annual immolations. In the country of the rising sun, a person commits suicide every 15 minutes.

We live in a culture of death even when hidden behind the garb of consumption and welfare. It’s enough to dig a little to make this moral destitution present as it is, with fierce selfishness, aggressive violence and lack of respect for life, which is a divine gift. We must oppose a “culture of life,” located in the lap of the family, against the “power of death”.

Author and journalist Clemente Ferrer has led a distinguished career in Spain in the fields of advertising and public relations. He is currently President of the European Institute of Marketing. [email protected]

 

July 12, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

Resign now, President Sirleaf! You have no credibility

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh Ellen

 

Now that President Sirleaf’s chosen auditor general, Robert Kirby, is reportedly out of a job in Liberia (for now, because those fired are often recycled like aluminum cans to another government posts as if they did nothing wrong in the first place), it is time for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to also resign the Liberian presidency to save the republic.

The reason: She’s not credible and does not have the confidence of the Liberian people, period!

The time to intellectualize about the effectiveness or ineffectiveness of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration is over; so let’s spare the Liberian people headaches and pains by asking Ellen to resign.

It is a waste of time to even argue for this president not to resign, because we’ve done all that in the last seven years. Yet, corruption is out of control, and finding the psychological reasons why some people steal and why others gave their time and their entire life helping others without taking a dime from them, should be left to the experts.

Whether is it just greed or simply a desire to steal from the poor in a country that have little to offer its citizens, it is abundantly obvious that Liberian politicians have made things extremely difficult for all when they put their selfish interest over the people’s interest.

However, what are we to gain with the continuation of a corrupt, insensitive, arrogant, disconnected and leaderless administration that travels a lot globally, that callously change the definition of the word (nepotism) to suit her blind and selfish family objectives, and cares very little about the Liberian people whom she took to hell and continue to take to hell throughout her presidency?

What are we to gain from a president who failed to create jobs in seven years as unemployment reaches 80 percent? What are we to gain from a president who manipulates the judiciary and the elections law of the country, by appointing members of the National Elections Commission? What are we to gain from a president who sells rural lands and the nation’s natural resources to the highest international bidder?

Where’s accountability, Liberians? Where’s legislative oversight?

The time now is to get rid of President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and the spineless legislative rogues across from the Executive Mansion non-violently, for stealing from the coffers of the Republic of Liberia, and for failing to legislate.

The truth is, corruption is out of control in the Sirleaf administration; and firing Robert Kirby alone cannot and will not solve Liberia’s chronic corruption problem.

President Sirleaf is well known for paying lip service to corruption, which is evident when she appointed her meaningless anti-corruption task force.

However, corruption is rampant and cannot be eradicated or controlled when existing anti-corruption laws are not enforced to discourage future copycats from prying on the Liberian people.

To curb corruption to the minimum, at least:

Homes and stolen funds in local and overseas bank accounts should be seized across the board; and the president shouldn’t pick and choose which criminal to prosecute based on her preference. If the perpetrators of the criminal acts can be located in a foreign land, the individual should be extradited to Liberia for prosecution.

The Minister of Justice is not and shouldn’t be a token appointee of the President of Liberia, and must be empowered and supported by the president to carry out the law of the land. However, the Ministry of Justice and its Criminal Investigation Division (CID) must be trained and funded to seriously combat corruption.

The legislative branch of government, which has been a major embarrassment, has to get out of the President’s pocketbook. Their failure to be honest professionals and independent partners in governance is a threat to the nation’s national security. Some of these individuals, many of whom are former warlords, are not competent to even watch a neighbor’s dog; let alone be legislators.

In seven years since she ascended to the Liberian presidency, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s greatest accomplishment has been charges of corruption and the lack of transparency and accountability either against herself, her children, some in her cabinet, and also in the legislative branch.

And when charges of corruption are brought against her and others in her administration, the most Liberians has gotten out of this lady is naked arrogance and a display of prolonged reticence, as if the Liberian people works for her instead of the other way around.

In 2009, her son, Charles Sirleaf, who works at the Central Bank, was reportedly involved in an alleged forgery saga involving another employee, after $1.1 million was transferred from the government-owned Central Bank to an Eco Bank account. According to reports, Madame Sirleaf’s signature was forged to transfer the stolen funds. What became of that case is anyone’s guess.

During the early part of 2013, some employees at the international airport diverted $300,000 intended for the renovation of Roberts International Airport (RIA). What became of the case is anyone’s guess.

The newest revelation is the disappearance of $13.5 million from the European Union intended for the health ministry to combat maternity mortality and morbidity, which has not been accounted for.

As usual, the Sirleaf administration is silent about the whereabout of this money. As things are now, the blame game goes on between various individuals in her administration.

This President cares very little about public opinion.

With Liberia coming out of a prolonged civil war and the Liberian people trying very hard to get their lives together, the overwhelming consensus is that the Liberian people don’t have the appetite for another civil war that will destabilize their lives.

That alone has gotten some Liberians in the political advocacy community to walk carefully in their demands for jobs and better wages, accountability, transparency, good governance in general, and the resignation of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration so far has failed terribly to meet the various marks.

The question now is how long can the Liberian people wait for Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to show leadership and make living conditions better for the average Liberian? How long can the Liberian people keep Ellen Johnson Sirleaf as their President? It is time for her to resign. Now is the time!

 

 

 

 

July 9, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post

We are our own worst enemy

By Tewroh-Wehtoe Sungbeh ulaa logo

 

I find it very difficult describing Liberian politics.

I also find it hard describing the participants – the ones who often refers to themselves as either ‘politicians’ and ‘progressives.’

One is already in office, and the other, well, are in the background or in the public sphere constantly pinpointing the wrongs of the other side as they or their surrogates benefit politically or financially from the ones in office; even as they too attempt to become officeholders.

What’s wrong with the picture is that it becomes laughable, blurry and corrupt to the naked eye; making the various groups to appear dishonest and not credible, in a political game that always claims its share of poor and helpless victims.

We saw the same movie in the past when the so-called ‘progressive’ agitators rallied to defend a country they once believed was sinking, only to add to the problem.

Some of the progressives would bend over shamelessly in latter years to work and get rich quick, in those patently corrupt and dysfunctional governments of the past that continues to be an embarrassment to the Liberian people.

With the history of the past is still haunting Liberians and the Liberian nation, some haven’t learned the lessons of putting country first, but would rather prefer to blindly follow and support their friends and relatives in government and whoever is President, at the detriment of the country’s prosperity.

Another problem:

Liberians are also good at selective criticism.

They will criticize another person in office, but will leave their favorite person out intentionally because he or she is a favorite person.

A friend or relative who is appointed or elevated to a government post but engages in corruption cannot, should not and will not be criticized because he or she is a friend or family member.

In most cases, those Liberians are always in the admiration mode often bestowing their brand of false adulations on the family member or friend, because he or she was appointed minister or director of a particular ministry or agency by the President of Liberia.

At least the Liberian opposition groups (with their singular interest of replacing President Tolbert) were united during the administration of the moderate Tolbert, whom they were ready to replace at any costs and eventually replaced.

However, the polarization of Liberian politics began after the so-called ‘native son,’ Doe, whose understanding of governance is the militarization of Liberian politics to suit his blind and naked ambitions of being President of Liberia.

During his 10-year oppressive rule as a military leader or President, Liberians surely were divided on ethnic and political lines – with Mr. Doe’s ethnic Krahn tribal loyalists (and some non-Krahns whom he helped financially and with jobs) sticking with him, even as he pillaged the nation’s resources and ruled the nation his way and with no accountability, whatsoever.

The coming of the disgraced Charles Taylor even intensified the polarization of Liberian politics, as the former Americo-Liberian ruling class whom President Doe had destabilized during his 1980 coup, were emboldened to return to power.

This period also saw the return of the bookish, opportunistic, job-seeking and obsessively rhetorical and impractical native or indigenous Liberians of previous years.

This group considers themselves “progressives.”

They built their reputations on the past, and began a conveniently surreptitious and overt campaign to undermine the same pluralistic democratic country they always believed they fought to build.

Some of these so-called progressives who are/were already members of disorganized political parties, are also obsessed with the presidency.

Their leaders or standard bearers are often disconnected from the political aspirations of the people, and not even concerned with the idea of building democratic institutions, and organizing and articulating a genuine road to pluralistic democracy.

Their standard bearers naively and arrogantly believed they can be a service to Liberia only by becoming President of Liberia, or can do better by running for president every election season.

The progressives also want government jobs. Getting a government job, however, requires the individual to surrender and sleep with the devil, which many has done over the years.

Some are now even sleeping with the “devil” Madame Sirleaf for government jobs, even though she refuses to even recognize the verdict of her own Truth and Recoliation Commission (TRC), that made it crystal clear she cannnot participate in politics for 30 years. She defied the commission and ran for president in 2011.

The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA), the paralyzed and discredited umbrella organization of Liberian organizations, is often up in arms with the Sirleaf administration and visiting government officials, often beating their drums as if it is normal for the current Liberian government of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to be corrupt and ineffective.

The lack of a genuinely cohesive and united voice in Liberian politics today has done damage to progressive politics, as we know it. A call for protest demonstrations or rallies against the Sirleaf administration often brings out of the woods opportunististic elements.

The last protest rally against the government never happened, because organizers were reportedly bribed by the Sirleaf administration to halt it.

The advent of the “me” and “I” mentality – the obsessively personal and selfish nature of individuals trying to get rich quickly on the sweat of the poor, has done tremendous damage to cohesiveness in Liberian politics.

Polarization in Liberian politics has also intensified under the Sirleaf administration, as the president continues to play one group against the other to solidify her grip on the presidency.

The opposition is ineffective and mainly concerned with seeking individual employment and financial handouts from the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, who should have been deposed or overthrown non-violently by now.

Running for the presidency without putting together a clear and formidable bread and butter strategy to win, has emboldened Madame Sirleaf to run her administration as she so chose to do.

A Case in point is George Oppong Weah and his Congress for Democratic Change political party, which supposed to be the leading opposition party in Liberia.

George Weah, the former football star and opposition leader is a paid member of President Sirleaf’s National Oil Board, and also Peace Ambassador in the Sirleaf administration. George Weah and his CDC party has no ounce of credibility to run Liberia after Madame Sirleaf is gone.

How can an opposition leader who supposedly disagrees (together with his political party) with the President’s policies, work in the government he has fundamental differences with?

The Sirleaf administration, which received tremendous local and global goodwill since coming to power has not only embraced the lack of cohesiveness within the opposition which has benefited her mammoth political aspirations, but also squandered all credibility to be taken seriously.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is not ready for the presidency, and the past years have shown her obvious lack of leadership and a desire to build institutions, and respect existing institutions.

Rampant corruption and nepotism are evident in every sphere of her administration, Sirleaf is not accountable to the Liberian people, and she continues to manipulate the judiciary and the electoral process.

Madame Sirleaf appointed officers of the National Elections Commission (NEC) whom oversaw the 2005 and 2011 elections, even though she was a presidential candidate and an incumbent at the time. Is that considered fair, independent and neutral?

Rural lands and natural resources are being sold to the highest international bidder. Unemployment is close to 80 percent, healthcare is under funded, poverty has skyrocketed, and the education, environmental and transportation systems are in shambles.

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf is a frequent flyer and globetrotter, who spends the nation’s meager resources like a drunken sailor. Where’s legislative oversight and accountability? Where’s the opposition, anyway?

The truth is, we are not serious; and are our own worst enemy.

 

July 6, 2013 | 0 comments | View Post