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Archive for November, 2014

Lessons learned from Ebola

By Morris T. Koffa

Morris__T__Koffa

 

A post-Ebola agenda is a bit premature. However, I am mindful of the adage: “In times of war, prepare for peace.” It is a sobering reminder that serves as a platform for the discussion of the critical issues and the challenges that confronts us during the entire Ebola outbreak.

Early assessments from the Ebola outbreak revealed that there were serious lapses and flaws that rendered Liberia and the two other member countries in the Mano River Union (MRU) basin - Guinea and Sierra Leone incapable of containing the spread of the epidemic. Liberia has been hit the hardest with looming long-term social and economic consequences that demand the discussion of a strategic plan of action using SWOT analysis of existing infrastructures such as health, environment, emergency and disaster management to prevent or be better prepared for future disaster. Liberia is focused because of the ferocious impact that Ebola had on the country.

It is unprecedented in the history of the MRU for such an epidemic to invade the three MRU countries with such intensity. There is a lot to be learned from the

lenses of medical scientists for the world to know why such a disease that had its origin in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) in 1976, to suddenly subside and later travel to West Africa to cause such major devastation of lives and resources.

Of particular concerns are the revealing statistics of Liberia’s confirmed cases of (6,535), deaths (2,413) as of October 30, 2014 (United State Center for Disease Control [US-CDC], 2014). Guinea, where it all started reported 1,667 confirmed cases and 1,018 confirmed deaths, while Sierra Leone has 5,338 confirmed cases and 1,510 confirmed deaths (USCDC, 2014). Nigeria has 20 confirmed cases and 8 confirmed deaths, and Senegal with one confirmed case and no death. Nigeria and Senegal have both been declared Ebola freed by the World Health Organization (WHO) (CDC, 2014). The United States of America has had 4 confirmed cases and one confirmed death, and Mali has one confirmed case and one death. Spain has had one confirmed case and no death (CDC, 2014).

Liberia made headlines around the world because of two infected Liberians who traveled outside of the country. Liberia’s confirmed cases surpassed or doubled those of Guinea, and almost doubled those of Sierra Leone. The advantage of ‘prior knowledge’ of Ebola originating from Guinea and Sierra Leone was an early warning sign that could have save lives and the environment in Liberia. Regrettably, Liberians ignored signs of the Ebola virus and didn’t think the disease even existed. As a result, residents were further exposed to the danger of Ebola, which earned Liberia the nickname as the “epicenter” of Ebola in Africa.

The situation triggered a barrage of unsolicited media hype in the US, with the assertion that Africans, particularly Liberians are synonymous with Ebola. The unsolicited publicity grew by the day, especially in the US. Some American politicians found solace in the Liberian tragedy to win political points. The US politicians even advocated banning citizens from Ebola-affected countries, even as medical experts’ advice against doing so. The medical experts emphasized that a ban would be counterproductive to the idea of treating the epidemic at its source.

There are psychological tolls associated with the stigma that all Africans, especially Liberians, are ‘considered as host of the disease.’ Many of these Africans are rejected in some parts of the US, and other parts of the world. In some cases, Liberians have been dismissed from their jobs and rejected in schools for fear of spreading Ebola. The Liberian Community in Staten Island, New York, and other areas reported such a situation. All this drama serves as a vivid reminder of the dark history of slavery in the United States, many decades

ago. One may be reminded, for example of the segregated period in the South. During this period, blacks were isolated and told to drink from separate water fountains and separate toilets. Another example was during 9-11, when some in the Muslim faith were perceived as a terrorist and outcasts in some communities. This is exactly the same stigma, borne of fear and illogical reasoning, which Africans, and particularly Liberians have been subjected to in several communities.

The Ebola outbreak has the potential of creating a state of pandemonium that could have a crippling effect on Liberia’s economy, and also could threaten the nation’s long-term development agenda. No doubt, the epidemic is a vicious killer that hasn’t spare not even a child in its path. However, when a nation strengthens its healthcare, emergency and disaster management as well as environmental infrastructures and human lives in the contemporary global environment, it can certainly slowdown the impact of a disaster in the making.

In the context of emergency and disaster management and environmental protection, there are regional and international collaborative efforts or treaties that spell out specific guidelines that member states are expected to incorporate into their developmental agenda under the concept of ‘Disaster Risk Reduction’ (DRR) to address emergency and disaster management. Interestingly, Liberia is a chartered member of the following DRR Treaties: Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Policy for Disaster Risk Reduction; Africa Regional Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction under the African Unity (AU) and the Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA), specifically designed and promulgated for Africa under the United Nations.

Unfortunately, Liberia has not fully complied with these basic practices of DRR, making Liberia almost unprepared to handle any disaster, even on a minimum scale.

When a hazardous event is elevated to a disaster status, it means that the impacted nation is overwhelmed by its own capacity, and therefore needs extended help under international or regional laws that govern emergency and

disaster management. These regional and international treaties strongly encourage member states to do their part. In spite of such treaties, Liberia was nowhere close to being prepared to fight the Ebola epidemic.

Let’s make no mistake. Comparing the frequency and intensity of the Ebola disaster to past or current disaster in Liberia, such as the ongoing flooding in most communities and a plethora of others disasters, maybe a bit unrealistic, but the fact remains that systemic neglect on the part of policymakers to initiate relevant and robust mitigation programs intended to build the coping capacity of vulnerable communities is quite inimical to the social well-being, heath and security of the nation and its citizens. A few of those instances of systemic neglect include:

* The 2008 incident regarding the army worm caterpillar infestation that reportedly came by way of Sierra Leone into Bong County and other nearby counties in Liberia. When it was all over, more than 100 communities were

severely impacted from the toxic feces of the worms. Such feces contaminated water bodies, including drinking wells;

* The 2006 burning of the Executive Mansion of Liberia, the home and offices of the President of the Republic of Liberia. The Executive Mansion serves as the national symbol of Liberia’s Democracy. The building remains inhabitable.

* The current state of exploring natural resources in Liberia, which has functions that are highly hazardous. The exploration activities no doubt will pose new threats to several waterways. Liberia should be able to learn from numerous resource-exploration disasters, including the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico.

The point being made here is that Liberia is just too vulnerable for a sustainable future, and the risks are just too high to ignore. The Ebola crisis should be a wakeup call with a sense of urgency. Besides the dismal healthcare system, the state of environmental management in Liberia is just as worrisome, because it poses a serious threat to public health. Emergency and disaster management

infrastructure are extremely ineffective. Some Liberians will be quick to say that Liberia is just coming out of a civil conflict. Such an excuse will be used to justify a continuous status quo characterized by procrastination, corruption and poor governance.

There is a regional component to this episode that must not be ignored. There are three countries of the four member states of the MRU that are being impacted by the Ebola epidemic. It is therefore important to consider a plan of action that will incorporate the concept of DRR. The framework of the MRU focuses on trade and industry, agriculture, forestry and fisheries, transportation, communication national security, education, training and research and finance and administration (MRU, 2010). The Ebola epidemic that is severely ravaging three countries of the MRU should be a wakeup call for a joint task force of emergency and disaster management and disaster risk reduction in a fashion of collaboration, coordination and cooperation through an early warning system, education and research as a first line of defense.

The Africa Environmental Watch (AEW), a Liberian initiative, will engage the public and relevant institutions to address these concerns of critical importance. There is an urgent need to seize the opportunity introduced by lessons learned from the Ebola crisis to establish a platform for discussion and engagement, to decipher and develop a compass and a plan of action that will focus on education, training, research, infrastructure development and policy transformation, leading to a robust emergency and disaster management, and health and environmental capacity building.

AEW hopes also to make this discussion regional-based to deal with the potential elements of vulnerability and probability of danger in the MRU basin.

AEW recognizes the sacrifices made by individuals, organizations and nations to fight Ebola in Africa. AEW expresses condolences particularly to the healthcare workers, doctors and other volunteers who died trying to save Ebola patients. We also like to thank nations, organizations and individuals who continue to stand by Africa during these difficult times. In spite of our political differences, Liberians

are rallying around in different parts of the world, mobilizing resources in their respective organizations and forming groups for the sole purpose of providing assistance to the Liberian government and communities in Liberia. These actions are commendable. It can be said that in time of crises people often put aside political differences and unify to protect the greater good.

This reality must not be lost on Liberians.

 

Mr. Morris T. Koffa is an Environmental Engineer with the District Department of the Environment (DDOE), and a volunteer Emergency Liaison Officer (ELO), Emergency Response Team (ERT), Government of the District of Columbia, Washington, DC. Mr. Koffa is also a doctoral candidate at Walden University studying Public Policy and Emergency Management. Mr. Koffa is co-founder and executive director of Africa Environmental Watch (AEW), formally Liberia Environmental Watch (LEW). He can be reached at 240-417-2545 and [email protected].

 

November 9, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Liberia is my 'Kpormeni' (My business)

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor Liberia

 

 

 

Sometime people like to find palava with me because they want me to tell them the true history of Liberia – not the fairytale ‘history’ they had us reading when our government minimized the significant role the original inhabitants played in the formation of our country. Due to my advocacy, every now and then, someone will make statements like: “You’re not in Liberia or you’ve not been in Liberia recently” – suggesting I don’t know what is happening at home; therefore, what I say is not based on facts. To me these are IGNORANT STATEMENTS!

 

Liberia is my Kpormeni (my business). I have the same rights you have to make Liberia my palava; so stop telling me to ‘mind my business’ or to ‘leave the people’s thing along’. Who people are you talking about when you make such statements? Am I not included as one of the people? Why exclude me? Oh, I see; because “The Love Liberty” didn’t bring my people to the ‘Green or Pepper Coast’ your ancestors re-named Liberty (Liberia)? If you say these things, you’re picking fuss with me, and I can dish it out, too!

 

If many of us had made Liberia our business, perhaps, those who claimed leadership their divine birthright wouldn’t be messing with us. I have much fish to fry in Liberia’s business like any Liberian, and if one chooses not to, that’s their Kpormeni, not mine! Badmouthing those of us who care enough to conduct research and base our writings with facts not ‘besah’ or ‘they say’; remember you made your choice and we made ours. People do things for many reasons. Some are personal, while others do so because of patriotism. It could be you’re too scared to ‘rock the boat’ or haven’t done your homework to contribute anything of substance to the dialogue, so you resort to cherry-picking assault – bringing up things that have nothing to do with the discussion.

 

This practice is very bad because you wind up appearing ignorant and unintelligent. I mean no disrespect or put down by using the word – ignorant. By being ignorant, I mean the denotative meaning of the word, which is NOT TO KNOW THE ISSUE, as opposed to the connotative (implied) meaning. Simply put, when one does not know the issue, they do not know it, period. One who does it makes fool of him or herself. They make matters worse by pretending to know.

Many Liberians fall into the category of ‘knowing everything’ as it pertains to Liberia. They are experts on Liberia! Some based their reasons on their social connections, education, relationship with the powers that be, and elitist status. Then they encounter one like me; and the only defense they have is, “You haven’t been to Liberia recently; implying you don’ know what you’re saying. How can one who knows me make such an arrogant and ignorant statement to me? Do I have to be in Liberia to know what is going on there? I consider the statement untrue for the following reasons:

 

1) I have vested interest in Liberia;

 

2) I have been involved with Liberian and African issues since 1968;

 

3) I have served the Liberian and African communities in the Diaspora as member and leader since 1968;

 

4) I became the historian of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) not by appointment; I became its historian because of my special interest to record the history for posterity;

 

5) Unlike most Liberians at home, I have 24 hours Internet service; in fact. my laptop is on 24 hours, and my cellphone, too has Wi-Fi and Internet privileges;

 

6) I read LINA Reports, the FrontPageAfrica, other Liberian related news magazines and international newsmagazines to keep up with what is happening in Liberia, Africa and the world; I am a regular contributor to many Liberian online web media, and

 

7) I am officially retired. Therefore, I have the luxury that one who has to work 40 hours does not have.

 

Now tell me, how can I not be informed of what is going on in Liberia when God has richly blessed me with all these opportunities?

 

When I woke up this morning, the Lord directed me to get this off my chest because for too long now, defenders of previous and the present government have accused those of us who questioned our government officials for not doing those things for which they were elected or appointed.

 

I love my country. This is the reason I make Liberia my kpormeni (business). I cannot be a bystander when my people are dying like flies due to gross negligence by our elected officials.

 

It is arguments like the one provided below that I considered giving blanket support to a government that provides no essential services to its people. Instead they pay themselves hefty sums of money, while the people barely have food to eat on a daily basis; have no electricity, running water, good roads, sewer system, and modern health facilities. The person who wrote Dr. Lawrence Zumo email is defending the government that cannot defend itself. Now, you be the judge:

 

Zumo,

 

You never wanted USA to step on the soil of Liberia. Yet still, USA puts cash in the hand of the government to do its work. I do not know who you “telling” on to say you have documents to attest to your false story. Oh I see, you are just like Morlue [Morlu] who said that the government of Ellen was three times corrupt than previous governments while he was yet to sit down in his office.

 

Please take time with Liberians how you tell to them. By the way, who are you to have in your possession documents that are not yours.

 

If there is no trust in Liberian government, EU and USA would have listened to you. Praise God that the groups you are talking about act/do anytime upon the request of president [President] Ellen Johnson Sitleaf [Sirleaf].

 

You go to sleep, you been working all night.

 

(Name withheld)

 

That writer is among some of the people who do not see anything wrong with the Sirleaf’s administration, and do not want any of us to be critical of the government despite its failure to provide the needed services in 9 years.

 

The “…old adage (if you think education is expensive, try ignorance; if you think health care is not important, try an epidemic) has been around for ages but well it had to take that little bug, Ebola and its twin, “Egbola” (= the stark exposer and shamer of pretense and international acquiescence) to drive the message home. Even at that once Ebola and Egbola calms down it will be business as usual

 

“The common man/woman in Liberia knows s/he is on his/her own. S/He will do the best in due course for the children with whatever crumbs s/he can get.

 

“Thanks for the advice Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma [Chairperson of the African Union Commission] but with history as our guide, we don’t think anything substantial will change in those two departments long after Ebola and Egbola are gone,” wrote, Lawrence A. Zumo, MD.

 

However, there is a Liberian parable that says, “If the townspeople are happy, look for the chief; if they are not happy, look for the chief.” In this case, who do you hold responsible for their plight - the Liberian people or the chief who did not make them happy? To that I say, “In God, anything is possible”. Therefore, I pray that God will protect the doctors and healthcare workers that are helping our people; God will bless them, plenty!

 

In short, the poem provided below sums up my patriotic responsibilities and obligations for which I was born a Liberian; it reads:

 

It Wasn’t Any Choice of Mine!

I

It wasn’t any choice of mine to be born a Liberian! Anyway I thank God to be born a Liberian You see, I have never questioned why God ordained That I be born in Dukor, the Land of Liberty Out of the combination of the rising sun And the multi-color dust of the cradle of civilization.

II

In fact, I was born with diversity as diverse as The four cardinal elements, Air, Water, Fire and Earth I am all that I was created to be:

 

Klao

Bassau

Grebo

Kuwaa

Sapo

Dei

Gola

Vai

Mende

Kpelle

Lorma

Bandi

Gissi

Manlinke

Dan

Mah

Americo-Liberian,

and

 

Kongor

 

III

 

But most of all, A Native, Country, and a Civilized person

All of these I am proud to be called! For to be Native is to share something with the Land Also, the Land is referred to as Country To be Civilized, is the creative stage of our development

Which is common to all humanities This is what makes all of us, “KU-KA TONOR.”

 

IV

 

So, in the first place There shouldn’t have been any fuss About Native, Country, Kongor and Civilized Therefore, from here on

I need to send YOU this clear message If you think you are insulting me By calling me Native! Country! Kongor, and Uncivilized Is to forget that being born a Liberian

Wasn’t any choice of mine! It was ordained that I be born a Liberian

Of which I am proud; therefore, My message to you, my brothers and sisters It is in our best interest To celebrate our reunion Share in PEACE, the LAND called Liberia Learn to accept

And appreciate each other Because you and I are related through the Grace of God.

 

V

So from here on

 

All that I ask of you is to tell those who oppose Our union or re-union To hush, get out of the way or get lost Because I’ve truly seen what division has done To our once “Land of Liberty”

And its people Therefore, if you are not for PEACE and RECONCILIATION You need to excuse me Because I am on a mission to build a new Liberia

Where KU-KA TONOR will be our new battle cry.

 

VI

For God has shown me the ultimate truth Why He ordained that I be born a Liberian And to be called by all of my names: First, by Native And then Country Followed by Civilized, Kongor But most of all, To be a Liberian in all manifestations.

 

*Kpormeni means, “That’s your business” in Kpelle, the largest ethnic tribe in Liberia.

 

 

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut is on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: [email protected].

 

November 9, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Liberia is my ‘Kpormeni’ (My business)

By Siahyonkron Nyanseor Liberia

 

 

 

Sometime people like to find palava with me because they want me to tell them the true history of Liberia – not the fairytale ‘history’ they had us reading when our government minimized the significant role the original inhabitants played in the formation of our country. Due to my advocacy, every now and then, someone will make statements like: “You’re not in Liberia or you’ve not been in Liberia recently” – suggesting I don’t know what is happening at home; therefore, what I say is not based on facts. To me these are IGNORANT STATEMENTS!

 

Liberia is my Kpormeni (my business). I have the same rights you have to make Liberia my palava; so stop telling me to ‘mind my business’ or to ‘leave the people’s thing along’. Who people are you talking about when you make such statements? Am I not included as one of the people? Why exclude me? Oh, I see; because “The Love Liberty” didn’t bring my people to the ‘Green or Pepper Coast’ your ancestors re-named Liberty (Liberia)? If you say these things, you’re picking fuss with me, and I can dish it out, too!

 

If many of us had made Liberia our business, perhaps, those who claimed leadership their divine birthright wouldn’t be messing with us. I have much fish to fry in Liberia’s business like any Liberian, and if one chooses not to, that’s their Kpormeni, not mine! Badmouthing those of us who care enough to conduct research and base our writings with facts not ‘besah’ or ‘they say’; remember you made your choice and we made ours. People do things for many reasons. Some are personal, while others do so because of patriotism. It could be you’re too scared to ‘rock the boat’ or haven’t done your homework to contribute anything of substance to the dialogue, so you resort to cherry-picking assault – bringing up things that have nothing to do with the discussion.

 

This practice is very bad because you wind up appearing ignorant and unintelligent. I mean no disrespect or put down by using the word – ignorant. By being ignorant, I mean the denotative meaning of the word, which is NOT TO KNOW THE ISSUE, as opposed to the connotative (implied) meaning. Simply put, when one does not know the issue, they do not know it, period. One who does it makes fool of him or herself. They make matters worse by pretending to know.

Many Liberians fall into the category of ‘knowing everything’ as it pertains to Liberia. They are experts on Liberia! Some based their reasons on their social connections, education, relationship with the powers that be, and elitist status. Then they encounter one like me; and the only defense they have is, “You haven’t been to Liberia recently; implying you don’ know what you’re saying. How can one who knows me make such an arrogant and ignorant statement to me? Do I have to be in Liberia to know what is going on there? I consider the statement untrue for the following reasons:

 

1) I have vested interest in Liberia;

 

2) I have been involved with Liberian and African issues since 1968;

 

3) I have served the Liberian and African communities in the Diaspora as member and leader since 1968;

 

4) I became the historian of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) not by appointment; I became its historian because of my special interest to record the history for posterity;

 

5) Unlike most Liberians at home, I have 24 hours Internet service; in fact. my laptop is on 24 hours, and my cellphone, too has Wi-Fi and Internet privileges;

 

6) I read LINA Reports, the FrontPageAfrica, other Liberian related news magazines and international newsmagazines to keep up with what is happening in Liberia, Africa and the world; I am a regular contributor to many Liberian online web media, and

 

7) I am officially retired. Therefore, I have the luxury that one who has to work 40 hours does not have.

 

Now tell me, how can I not be informed of what is going on in Liberia when God has richly blessed me with all these opportunities?

 

When I woke up this morning, the Lord directed me to get this off my chest because for too long now, defenders of previous and the present government have accused those of us who questioned our government officials for not doing those things for which they were elected or appointed.

 

I love my country. This is the reason I make Liberia my kpormeni (business). I cannot be a bystander when my people are dying like flies due to gross negligence by our elected officials.

 

It is arguments like the one provided below that I considered giving blanket support to a government that provides no essential services to its people. Instead they pay themselves hefty sums of money, while the people barely have food to eat on a daily basis; have no electricity, running water, good roads, sewer system, and modern health facilities. The person who wrote Dr. Lawrence Zumo email is defending the government that cannot defend itself. Now, you be the judge:

 

Zumo,

 

You never wanted USA to step on the soil of Liberia. Yet still, USA puts cash in the hand of the government to do its work. I do not know who you “telling” on to say you have documents to attest to your false story. Oh I see, you are just like Morlue [Morlu] who said that the government of Ellen was three times corrupt than previous governments while he was yet to sit down in his office.

 

Please take time with Liberians how you tell to them. By the way, who are you to have in your possession documents that are not yours.

 

If there is no trust in Liberian government, EU and USA would have listened to you. Praise God that the groups you are talking about act/do anytime upon the request of president [President] Ellen Johnson Sitleaf [Sirleaf].

 

You go to sleep, you been working all night.

 

(Name withheld)

 

That writer is among some of the people who do not see anything wrong with the Sirleaf’s administration, and do not want any of us to be critical of the government despite its failure to provide the needed services in 9 years.

 

The “…old adage (if you think education is expensive, try ignorance; if you think health care is not important, try an epidemic) has been around for ages but well it had to take that little bug, Ebola and its twin, “Egbola” (= the stark exposer and shamer of pretense and international acquiescence) to drive the message home. Even at that once Ebola and Egbola calms down it will be business as usual

 

“The common man/woman in Liberia knows s/he is on his/her own. S/He will do the best in due course for the children with whatever crumbs s/he can get.

 

“Thanks for the advice Dr. Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma [Chairperson of the African Union Commission] but with history as our guide, we don’t think anything substantial will change in those two departments long after Ebola and Egbola are gone,” wrote, Lawrence A. Zumo, MD.

 

However, there is a Liberian parable that says, “If the townspeople are happy, look for the chief; if they are not happy, look for the chief.” In this case, who do you hold responsible for their plight - the Liberian people or the chief who did not make them happy? To that I say, “In God, anything is possible”. Therefore, I pray that God will protect the doctors and healthcare workers that are helping our people; God will bless them, plenty!

 

In short, the poem provided below sums up my patriotic responsibilities and obligations for which I was born a Liberian; it reads:

 

It Wasn’t Any Choice of Mine!

I

It wasn’t any choice of mine to be born a Liberian! Anyway I thank God to be born a Liberian You see, I have never questioned why God ordained That I be born in Dukor, the Land of Liberty Out of the combination of the rising sun And the multi-color dust of the cradle of civilization.

II

In fact, I was born with diversity as diverse as The four cardinal elements, Air, Water, Fire and Earth I am all that I was created to be:

 

Klao

Bassau

Grebo

Kuwaa

Sapo

Dei

Gola

Vai

Mende

Kpelle

Lorma

Bandi

Gissi

Manlinke

Dan

Mah

Americo-Liberian,

and

 

Kongor

 

III

 

But most of all, A Native, Country, and a Civilized person

All of these I am proud to be called! For to be Native is to share something with the Land Also, the Land is referred to as Country To be Civilized, is the creative stage of our development

Which is common to all humanities This is what makes all of us, “KU-KA TONOR.”

 

IV

 

So, in the first place There shouldn’t have been any fuss About Native, Country, Kongor and Civilized Therefore, from here on

I need to send YOU this clear message If you think you are insulting me By calling me Native! Country! Kongor, and Uncivilized Is to forget that being born a Liberian

Wasn’t any choice of mine! It was ordained that I be born a Liberian

Of which I am proud; therefore, My message to you, my brothers and sisters It is in our best interest To celebrate our reunion Share in PEACE, the LAND called Liberia Learn to accept

And appreciate each other Because you and I are related through the Grace of God.

 

V

So from here on

 

All that I ask of you is to tell those who oppose Our union or re-union To hush, get out of the way or get lost Because I’ve truly seen what division has done To our once “Land of Liberty”

And its people Therefore, if you are not for PEACE and RECONCILIATION You need to excuse me Because I am on a mission to build a new Liberia

Where KU-KA TONOR will be our new battle cry.

 

VI

For God has shown me the ultimate truth Why He ordained that I be born a Liberian And to be called by all of my names: First, by Native And then Country Followed by Civilized, Kongor But most of all, To be a Liberian in all manifestations.

 

*Kpormeni means, “That’s your business” in Kpelle, the largest ethnic tribe in Liberia.

 

 

Siahyonkron Nyanseor is the Chair of the ULAA Council of Eminent Persons (UCEP), Inc. He is a poet, Griot, journalist, and a cultural and political activist. He is an ordained Minister of the Gospel. He is Chairman of the Liberian Democratic Future (LDF), publisher of theperspective.org online newsmagazine and Senior Advisor to the Voice of Liberia newsmagazine. In 2012, he Co-authored Djogbachiachuwa: The Liberian Literature Anthology; his book of poems: TIPOSAH: Message from the Palava Hut is on the market. Nyanseor can be reached at: [email protected].

 

November 9, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Burkina Faso after Compaoré: Continuity through Change?

By Valerie Arnould Blaise Compaoré

AfricanArgumentsEditor

 

The removal on 31 October of Blaise Compaoré, who was president of Burkina Faso for 27 years, following street protests, has been welcomed as a momentous event. In a continent where state leaders often desperately cling to power until their death or they are removed through violent force, the ‘Burkina revolution’ has been hailed as an all too rare case of how citizen mobilisation can successfully produce regime change.

The protests broke out over plans by Compaoré to change article 37 of the Constitution which limits presidential tenure to two five-year terms, enabling him to run again in the 2015 elections. While popular opposition to an extension of Compaoré’s stay in power was expected, the rapidity with which it escalated and resulted in his departure took many by surprise. Street protests against the regime are nothing new: various demonstrations took place in Ouagadougou and Bobo-Dioulasso in July 2013 against rising living costs and the proposed creation of a Senate, while demonstrations against the planned constitutional revisions were organised by the opposition in January and May 2014. Compaoré also survived a wave of protests in 2011, including a violent army mutiny. This time though, he seems to have overplayed his hand.

The exact nature of the negotiations which took place behind closed doors, and the kind of promises (or threats) that were made to Compaoré that made him bow out so quickly are not known. Similarly, only time will tell to what extent some of the events may have been pre-planned.

However, one can surmise that a few factors were at play to create ‘the perfect storm’ that resulted in Compaoré’s departure:

First, the mass defections in early 2014 of high-ranking members from the ruling party (the Congrès pour la Démocratie et le Progrès, CDP) and their creation of a new opposition party (the Mouvement du People pour le Progrès, MPP) dealt a severe blow to Compaoré. While discontent and dissension within the ruling party had been brewing since 2009, the defections represented the final consummation of this internal schism and brought to the fore Compaoré’s inability (or unwillingness) to seek political conciliation. The defections did not immediately threaten the CDP’s parliamentary control but did weaken Compaoré’s position politically, making his stay in power after 2015 even more problematic.

Another factor was the pressure he faced from external actors to refrain from extending his stay in power. With clear indications from key donors such as France and the US that they would not support Compaoré’s bid for another term in office (despite close military ties with the country) he possessed limited room to manoeuvre. Learning from recent events in Ivory Coast and Senegal, Compaoré may have calculated that his ability to force his stay in power was too small.

The most significant factor in explaining Compaoré’s sudden ‘resignation’ was the military’s rapid siding with the opposition and protesters’ demands for the president’s departure. Without the backing of the military, Compaoré knew that he could not retain control of power.

His departure may offer for Burkina Faso an opportunity to improve its democratic and developmental performance, but important challenges lie ahead. First is the role of the army. Throughout the country’s history, the national army has played a central political role and acted as the guarantor of stability. It came close to achieving a major tour de force during the current crisis by masking what was a military coup as a military-mediated hand-over of power. This illusion was however unveiled when the army leadership announced it would lead the transition period.

This decision was not so much driven by a desire to install a long-term military regime but by political calculations. By taking control of the state leadership after Compaoré’s departure, the military likely sought to prevent the immediate outbreak of bitter political infighting between various groupings and thereby stop the country from spiraling into a deeper political crisis. The move also served to ensure that the army would determine the country’s new leader.

The army is deliberately seeking to place itself as a key broker in upcoming political negotiations. This may mean that it remains in power until the organisation of elections, but more likely until an agreement is reached with the political parties for the designation of an acceptable civilian transitional leader. In any case, negotiations about the political transition will have to pass through the military and take into account its preferences if any kind of stable political solution is to be found.

The extent to which the army will be able to play its self-proclaimed role of ‘neutral overseer of the political transition’ is put into doubt by the internal rivalries within the army and the political allegiances of some of its top brass. The emergence of Colonel Isaac Yacouda Zida as the transition leader may serve stability in the short term as he commands the loyalty of the best trained, best armed and most (some would even say the only) effective military unit in the country, the Régiment de Sécurité Présidentielle (RSP).

Despite his position in the RSP, he is less a supporter of Compaoré than army chief General Honoré Traoré, who initially seized control after Compaoré’s departure, or private army chief of staff Gilbert Diendéré. But his position risks coming under challenge from military factionalism and rivalries.

Successfully maneuvering the transition will not only involve managing the army’s weight on political negotiations but also managing the risks of infighting within (and possibly partial disintegration of) the army. Furthermore, the close ties of some senior military leaders to Compaoré pose a risk that the latter will seek to influence future political developments through these military connections.

The question of the army should not overshadow another key challenge, namely that of the available political alternative. The political scene in Burkina Faso has traditionally been characterised by a dominant ruling party and a highly fragmented opposition. At present, the two strongest opposition parties are the Union pour le Progrès et le Changement (UPC) of Zéphirin Diabré which won 18 seats in the 2012 legislative elections, and the MPP party created in 2014.

So far, the opposition parties appear to have formed a cohesive front but the personal ambitions of key figures such as Diabré and MPP leader Roch Marc Christian Kaboré are likely to put a strain on this. Moreover, ideological differences between parties such as the UPC and MPP on one hand – which are both led by former Compaorists and therefore seen by some as semi-system parties – and Sankarist parties, are also likely to come more strongly to the fore. Managing the aspirations of the diverse factions of the opposition will thus pose a central challenge in the transition process.

Because of the political weight of their leaders and the international credibility they enjoy, the UPC and MPP are expected to play a central role in future political negotiations (and/or elections). While the ruling CDP party remained largely silent during the recent crisis and it is as yet unclear if any of its leaders have left the country, it is also likely to weigh on future political processes and retain the support of at least some factions within the army. There is therefore a prospect that the transition in Burkina Faso will amount to a presidential change without real political alteration – the new political elite being drawn from political circles that have operated within the Compaoré system over the past decades.

It could be argued that amongst all the available bad options, this might ultimately be the best possible scenario as continuity will promote political stability. After all, in an already unstable region,preventing the implosion of Burkina Faso is highly desirable. However, ‘politics as usual’ will not be enough to guarantee stability unless the key driver of the current crisis is also addressed: widespread popular discontent over socioeconomic conditions.

Opposition to Compaoré’s prolonged stay in power reflects the symptom rather than the cause of popular discontent. Since around the year 2000 the country has seen a significant increase in social protests, at both local and national level. This has in part been driven by resentment created by the lag between the high levels of economic growth experienced by the country – driven primarily by developments in the gold mining and cotton sectors – and the limited improvements in the living conditions of the general population. Growing levels of youth unemployment, social inequality, and tensions around the emerging gold mining sector, with industrial mining seemingly producing limited direct benefits to the population while fomenting localised conflicts over land, have proven key triggers of social protests.

The extent of this discontent came most clearly to the fore in 2011 when the country was rocked for three months by protests and strikes organised by diverse sections of society – students, civil servants, miners, teachers and even soldiers. This social discontent was compounded by allegations of corruption and economic nepotism within the highest circles of power, with members of the presidential entourage reportedly owning interests in various sectors such as mining, real estate, banking, public works, and retail. According to some reports, such assets were particularly targeted for vandalism and pillage during the recent protests. Failure to address this simmering socioeconomic discontent would seriously hamper any political transition and pave the way for future protests.

Dr. Valerie Arnould is Senior Research Fellow at the Africa Programme at Egmont – the Royal Institute for International Relations in Brussels, where she specialises on security, political and justice dynamics in francophone Africa. She is also a Research Fellow at the School of Law, University of East London.

 

November 7, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post

Advocating on behalf of the Liberian nation and its people: Can you help?

By Aflowa Kojo-Zaza 1847 Constitution of Liberia

 

Liberia is a tapestry of people in a multicultural context. We should use this as a strength to overcomeour obstacles and stop using it as a wedge to always be divided. We can take the woven country cloth as our symbol of unity and our multiculturalism. We can also use the “palaver hut” as a symbol of our connectedness and move forward for progress as one people.

 

Since God is not making land anymore and we have only this Land of Liberty, and for the posterity of our nation, we must work together for the good of the nation and the generations to come. We must leave Liberia better than how it was handed to us, for our children and the generations to come. Our multiculturalism and diversity are not perfect but, we must strive together to make the Republic of Liberia that Sweet Land of Liberty, that shall long be ours!

 

Liberia needs to establish two departments immediately to guide the Liberian people in this twenty-first century. The constitution must be revisited to establish the Department of Human Capital Development /Services and Resources and the Department of Citizenship and Community Affairs.

 

Chapter II, Article 6: “The Republic shall, because of the vital role assigned to the individual citizen under this Constitution for the social, economic and political well being of Liberia, provide equal access to educational opportunities and facilities for all citizens to the extent of available resources. Emphasis shall be placed on mass education of the Liberian people and the elimination of illiteracy.”

 

Chapter II, Article 8: “The Republic shall address its policy towards ensuring for all citizens, without discrimination, opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions, and towards promoting safety, health and welfare facilities in employment.”

 

These are the words from the rewritten Constitution of 1986. It was signed by representatives from all counties and territories which makes it “inclusive” of the political subdivisions of the Country. Also, see below the signatories of the 1847 Constitution.

 

Amos Sawyer, Chairman

  1. D. K. Wonsehleay, Co Chairman
  2. Robert G. W. Azango Member
  3. J. Gornee N. Barlefay Member
  4. J. Emmanuel Berry Member
  5. George D. Browne Member
  6. Augustus F. Caine Member
  7. H. Boima Fahnbulleh, Sr. Member
  8. Bangaly Fofana Member
  9. Philip G. Gadegbeku Member
  10. Alfred V. W. Gayflor Member
  11. Isaac L. George Member
  12. J. Rudolph Grimes Member
  13. Abraham L. James Member
  14. Peter A. Johnson Member
  15. David Kpomakpor Member
  16. Henry G. Kwekwe Member
  17. Albert Porte Member
  18. Patrick L. N. Seyon Member
  19. J. Teah Tarpeh Member
  20. S. Byron Tarr Member
  21. B. Mulbah Togbah Member
  22. Wolor Torpor Member
  23. Rebecca Ware Wilson Member
  24. Tuan Wreh Member

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CONSTITUTIONAL ADVISORY ASSEMBLY

  1. Edward Binyah Kesselly (Lofa County) Chairman
  2. Charles H. Williams (Grand Bassa County) Deputy Chairman
  3. Archibald F. Bernard (Montserrado County) Secretary General
  4. Richard K. Flomo (Bong County) Assistant Secretary General

Montserrado County

  1. Stephen H. Kolison, Sr. Member
  2. James Nagbe Doe Member
  3. James N. Nagbe Member
  4. Rocheforte L. Weeks Member
  5. Pearl Brown Bull Member
  6. Jonathan E. M. Gibson Member
  7. Zoe Ethel Norman Member
  8. Walter Yedebabuo Wisner, Jr. Member

Marshall Territory

  1. R. Francis Okai, Jr. Member

Bomi Territory

  1. Samuel Dwelu Hill Member
  2. K. Ballah M. Davis, Sr. Member

Gibi Territory

  1. David S. Menyongai Member
  2. Flomo Shadrach Daniel, II Member

Grand Bassa County

  1. A. Wilmot McCritty Member
  2. Abba G. Karnga Member
  3. Thomas L. Griggs Member
  4. Joseph L. Barchue, Sr. Member

Rivercess Territory

  1. T. Gbegbe Roberto Dole Member

Sinoe County

  1. Nelson William Broderick Member
  2. Charles N. Wiah Member
  3. Lawrence S. Bestman Member
  4. Jenkinson T. Nyenpan, Sr. Member

Sass Town Territory

  1. Dennis J. Weagbe Member

Maryland County

  1. Natheniel Bleh Seton, Sr. Member
  2. James Klaba Giko Member
  3. Christian W. Baker Member
  4. J. Barney Taylor Member

Kru Coast Territory

  1. Charles Barzee Coffey Member

Grand Cape Mount County

  1. A. Kini Freeman Member
  2. Christopher K. Kandakai Member
  3. Ernest K. Metzgar Member
  4. Victor Lamina Yates Member

Grand Gedeh County

  1. Harry T. Faber Nayou Member
  2. Philip Karyeyon Deah Member
  3. Robert Bloh Toe, Sr. Member
  4. Emmanuel B. Neewray Member
  5. Doquinee Jarpee Andrews, Jr. Member

Nimba County

  1. J. Patrick K. Biddle Member
  2. John Wiemi Bartuah Member
  3. James W. Zotaa, Jr. Member
  4. J. Gbarmie Sahn Member
  5. Jenkins G. W. Wongbe Member
  6. Peter A. Gbelia, Sr. Member
  7. Stephen B. Daniels, Sr. Member
  8. Samuel B. Wogbeh Member

Bong County

  1. John Flumo Bakalu, Sr.Member
  2. James Y. GbarbeaMember
  3. Walter T. GwenigaleMember
  4. Salome Giddings HallMember
  5. Manyu M. KamaraMember

Lofa County

  1. Edward S. Mends Cole Member
  2. J. Edward Koenig Member
  3. Frederick K. Gobewole Member
  4. James M. Hargrave Member
  5. Keikura Bayoh Kpoto Member

Unlike the 1847 Constitution and amended in 1955, see below the signatories to the Constitution:

Montserrado County S. Benedict, President, H. Teage Elijah Johnson, J. N. Lewis, Beverly R. Wilson, J. B. Gripon

Grand Bassa County John Day , Amos Herring, A. W. Gardiner, Ephraim Titler

Sinoe County E. E. Murray, Jacob W. Prout, Secretary to the Convention

 

In this light, these are my suggestions - establish the following two departments when this Ebola Crisis is over:

 

  1. The Department of Human Capital Development and Services
  2. The Department of Citizenship and Community Affairs

 

The Constitution gives all citizens of Liberia the “inalienable right for access to educational opportunities, mass education for the elimination of illiteracy and opportunities for employment and livelihood under just and humane conditions.”

 

The Ebola crisis should make all of us to come together and Advocate for the UDERSERVED in Liberia. To see sick people lying on the ground and children staring at them, this is traumatic. We are traumatized too as we watch on television and the internet. Imagine what toll it is taking on the people who are living this nightmare!

 

This should awaken the unselfish love in all of us to put aside the blaming, political differences, the 1847 to 2014 divisive talks, the criticisms of “I can do it better than you until I get there, the I know it all, I’m more educated than you, do you know who am I, Congo people were mean to me, country people were made to carry the soldiers to pay hut tax, country people operating under a different set of rules and not wanting to participate under the umbrella of the Liberian nation, the Congo people took advantage of the Country man and left us out of any developments, and whatever saying to consistently and persistently divide us.” Because you know what, at the end of the day, Ebola is not discriminating or is it selective. It is just looking for flesh!

 

We must now take the words of the late President William R. Tolbert very seriously and build “A Wholesome Functioning Society” .

 

Department of Human Capital Development and Services

 

This Department will be to set up training structures/systems to develop the innate abilities and creative minds of the Liberian people. Human Capital Development will be for cultivating the intelligent minds of the Liberian people be it young or old, with training and resources for jobs, how to start a business and economic freedom to make their lives better. This department will be a Reformation of the Liberian way of thinking and doing in our attitude and behavior towards business ownership, etc.

  1. Job Training
  2. Training for Home Economics and Industrial Arts
  3. Training for Farming and Husbandry
  4. Training on how to start any small business and grow it regardless of what it is

 

Department of Citizenship and Community Affairs

  1. To engage the people of each community and find out what are their needs
  2. To do Inreach and Outreach training for Advocates to help guide the process
  3. To vote for people in their community who they trust to be their leaders
  4. Education and training seminars on health and social responsibility
  5. Educating the Liberian people on what it means to be a part of the Nation
  6. Development of a Standard Code of Conduct for all of the Citizens of Liberia: to respect authority and the Rule of Law
  7. All officials of government must spend a week or two in the year in their hamlets, towns, villages or settlements to engage the people
  8. A Blueprint for zoning and the layout of cities, towns, villages, hamlets and settlements for the entire country
  9. A weekly “Palaver Hut Chat” from the President Of Liberia
  10. A “How are we doing tour?” around the country

 

In each town, settlement, village, or county, there should be a (Palaver Hut) Community Hall. The Palaver Hut should be improved to be a building with chairs and tables where the community can assemble daily. It should be a place where children to do homework or play indoors when the sun is too hot; where old people can sit indoors and talk about the good old days, where meetings are held for the good of the community, and when government officials visit the towns to speak to their constituents, the meeting is not held outdoors in the hot sun, but in the Community Hall.

 

For the young adults and those from the city who go to visit the farm, a place where they can sit and chat or play music. ” Down Memory Lane for the Boomers: during vacation time when you went upriver or upcountry: during the afternoon, with no place to go, you all walk up and down the road or upcountry and when it got dark, you had to go inside” And don’t let the a lizard walk on the dry grass, oh how scared you were!! . In Monrovia on Saturday, you could go to the movies or sit on the steps in the evening to chat. (that is, if you had them). Can we have The Palaver Hut/Town Community Halls where the town’s people can congregate and get to work together for the greater good of Liberia? Yes, I believe we can!

 

To the President and members of Senate and the House of Representatives, this will cost money, but it will be money well spent. It will also show the Liberian people that you care and they voted for a “Servant Leader.”

 

How Can This Be Accomplished?

 

Yes, it is the responsibility of the government to provide opportunities for the citizens, but equally so, it is incumbent on each citizen to let their senators and representatives know what are needed in their communities to help them make use of these opportunities. Because Advocacy has not been done before in this manner, to explain why change is necessary will be tough especially so because of cynicism and the systemic nature of the problems that are to be changed.

 

When a problem is so huge to tackle, it makes everyone stressed just thinking about how to fix it. These are problems from 1847 but they can be fixed! If we get involved with ideas and suggestions and pool resources, and are determined to never again let this happen to Liberia and the people of Liberia, it can be done! With the world only a click away because of the internet, there are organizations we could ask to come and work with us to help us achieve this goal - “One Love, One Mission, One Liberia.”

 

Let us move away from what brought us to where we are today. If we do, everyone has a bad experience that happened to him or her in Liberia. We could go on forever with the list but Ebola is ravishing our land and its people and we are all embarrassed and ashamed! This goes for every Liberian person regardless of a new citizenship in the world. Let us start thinking and putting together ideas and strategies of what we want to see as a collective people going forward. What are your suggestions? Some of my suggestions of what we can do are:

 

  1. We have to go back and tell them, “your sent us to school to learn book. We have learned the book now and we have come back to show your what we learned”. It’s easier said than done but we should devise ways to reach them by using videos or bill boards or pictures - before it is done and after it is done.
  2. We could start with something in the community that’s already working and build up from there.
  3. We could train the students and young people to be “Ambassadors” for their communities so they take ownership and get credit for community service in school
  4. The Education Ministry should include in the curriculum Community Service for all students.

 

Today, it is Ebola. We don’t know what could come next; and it could be worse than Ebola. But with a clearer layout of the land, it will be faster to find the source.

 

We are a tapestry of people from diverse background brought together, whether by Divine Guidance or Fate, we are here with an “Ebola Ravished Country” on our hands!

 

Aflowa Kojo-Zaza can be reached at 973-722-7794. Email her at [email protected].

 

 

November 7, 2014 | 0 comments | View Post
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