Grand Gedeh Association Might be Heading for Crisis Election Commission Faces Law Suit – PART II
From PART I: The debate was compulsorily held. But by the time vice
presidential candidates got through introducing themselves, the owner
of the property was asking us to vacate the property in fifteen
minutes.
To score a cheap political point against the incumbent president, the supporters of Kannah-Yonly team grumbled that Glay is an incompetent leader who lacks proper planning. They thought, such a cheap propaganda would have persuaded the voters on the side of Kannah-Yonly team. Such an inferior propaganda did not hold during the elections process. The debate was executed as scheduled by the convention planning committee, on Saturday evening after the president’s message. From the perspective of many Grand Gedeans, Martha Kannah lost the debate to Henry Glay, especially when Mrs. Kannah evaded the question of financial impropriety that occurred when she was r president of the Pennsylvanian Chapter in 2002.
By 8:00AM on Sunday morning, May 24, 2009, the polls were officially opened at the Beverly Hills Middle School in Upper Darby, near Philadelphia. It was initially suggested, accepted and publicized that those who traveled far from out of town should vote early so as to hit the highway to return home. Grand Gedeans from Iowa, Minnesota, Utah, Ohio, Illinois, Rochester NY, Georgia, Tennessee, etc. roughed to the polls. To our astounding surprise, the self-conceited and non-law a bidden election commission (as usual), in collaboration with Kannah-Yonly representatives at the voting booths, unconstitutionally prevented the group from Rochester & Syracuse NY, and other registered bona fide Grand Gedeans from voting. The election commissioners advised the Rochester group to wait in the hall until its members were called.
By 12:00 noon, women with infants were tired and the children began to cry. This drew the attention of Grand Gedeh elders and required their intervention. For over two hours (12:00 PM and 2:05 PM), the elders (Hon. Bai Gbala, Hon. Charles Gaye Breeze, Amb. Harold Tarr, and Hon. William Glay) intervened and continually advised the commission to allow their fellow refugees to vote. The commission, under the influence of the de-facto leaders of the Kannah-Yonly team, unequivocally and disrespectfully rejected the appeals and intervention of the elders.
At 2:15 PM this author also volunteered his negotiating skills and entered the hall to throw in his pitch to all commissioners. After few minutes of talking, Hon. Gbala grew frustrated and went out to join other frustrated elders on the election grounds. I stayed in the hall talking to the commissioners, including Wilson Barlee – the spouse of Anna Barlee who had no business being with the commissioners, but continued to influence the decisions of the commissioners. After almost 25 minutes of pleading with Mrs. Barlee, she agreed and told me to call the Rochester group back on line to vote. I happily told the group leader, Mr. Wulu Karlah, to assemble his members back on line to vote. While the group was getting back on line, I left to inform the elders that the problem has been resolved, and that people were in line to vote.
I returned on the elections grounds 35 minutes later and learned that upon hearing the information that the Rochester and Syracuse groups were being allowed to vote, the angry and furious supporters of Kannah-Yonly team lambasted and persuaded Mrs. Barlee, which caused her to change her mind. When I confronted the Commissioner about her inconsistencies, she again politely told me that she would convene a quick meeting with the commissioners to determine whether or not the groups should vote. The meeting was not held until the time expired. Right there I realized that the elections process was all a deception and a plan for confusion was unstoppable. Like Mr. Gbala and other elders, I also cautioned the commissioners that whatever the outcome of the elections would be – no matter who won – there would be a serious problem accepting the results without the votes of Grand Gedeans from Rochester and Syracuse NY.
Meanwhile, other representatives of the Kannah-Yonly serving as observers were busy identifying and preventing possible Glay’s voters from voting. Over 50 persons from Philadelphia alone complained about the discourteous behavior of Kannah’s representatives in the voting booths. Worst of all, Rancy Wright, a representative of Kannah, asked Mr. Henry Glay, the incumbent president, to identify himself before casting his vote. And because of the harassment from the Kannah’s representatives in the voting booths, many voters, especially Philadelphians avoided the frustration, intimidation, temptations and left without voting. Of the 1035 registered members, only 509 (49%) actually were allowed by the election commission to vote.
The irregularities during the elections were copious and persistent. In the middle of the elections when the Kannah’s supporters realized that majority of the electorates was voting in favor of Glay, one of Glay’s representatives said she spotted the election commission chairman herself stuffing pre-marked ballots in the boxes. When confronted, Mrs. Barlee only admitted to opening the ballot boxes to make more room for other ballots. The ballot boxes were removed from the stage to a secured location (on the floor) where everybody would see them.
Throughout the day, Madam Election Commissioner was sitting at her desk in the hall stamping and supplying stamped ballots to the voters – a very dubious, un-transparent and treacherous practice. When asked how many ballots were printed, the commission could not confirm how many ballots were printed in total. Although every chapter had submitted a list of registered voters, the commission could not confirm how many people had registered to vote.
The pools closed at 4:00 PM and the boxes were moved back on stage to the commissioners for counting. At the end of the voting process, except the commissioners and the six observing representatives of both teams, were permitted to remain in the hall, in order to conduct the tallying of the ballots. Before the counting, Glay’s representatives suggested that all ballots should be tallied so as to know the exact number of ballots in all boxes. Again, both the elections commission and Kannah’s representatives rejected the suggestion, claiming that it would be time consuming. Accordingly, during the counting of the ballots, something dramatic happened. During both separation of ballots and first round of counting, Glay was accredited with 269 votes; Kannah received 228 votes. 12 ballots were disqualified by commission on the argument that the voters’ intentions were not clear. Glay’s representatives claimed that the 12 disqualified ballots belonged to the Glay-Yoway ticket. The elections commission decided to do a recount and immediately threw Kannah’s ballots in a black plastic bag that mysteriously surfaced in the room un-inspected. Glay’s representatives immediately raised concern about the bag and the behavior of the elections commission, and verbally protested the results of the elections. When the commission recounted Kannah’s ballots anyway, the number sprang from 228 to 277. Glay’s ballots were never recounted and remain the same. The commissioners claimed they could not recount Glay’s ballots because they were running out of time. The Glay’s team submitted a written protest to the commission at 9:45 Monday morning, May 25, 2009. The commission immediately fired back saying that the status of limitation for the protest had expired.
The action of the elections commission was not only disappointing and discouraging, it was an abuse to the people of Grand Gedeh that had traveled from far and near to exercise their inalienable voting right. It was obvious that the action of the commission was also intended to belittle, humiliate, disrespect, affront, insult and embarrass Henry Glay who has done everything possible to forge and maintain peace among Grand Gedeans. It is also apparent that a perpetrator cannot catch himself in action committing an offense or crime. Despite the flagrant irregularities, violation of voting rights, intimidation and illegal disqualification of voters, the elections commission still had no plan to quench such discordantious activities during elections.
The issue of voting right is universally tied in with other civil rights issues. For us Liberians, especially Krahn people, it is as recent as 1985 when most Liberians accused head of state Samuel Doe of rigging the general elections in his favor. Although Doe never stopped or prevented any group of citizens from voting, people felt their rights were violated because they felt or thought their votes were not counted. This led to November 12th invasion, and eventually to more than 13 years of protracted and fatal civil war that killed more than 350,000 Liberians. Because Doe was a Krahn man, most Liberians blamed and still continue to blame the entire Krahn nation. Liberians are now scattered around the world. In South Africa, Nelson Mandela was imprisoned for more than 27 years fighting for the rights of Black South Africans. In India, Mahatma Gandhi was killed in his endeavor to fight for the rights and freedom of all Indians under British rule. Right here in the United States where thousands of Liberians resettle to seek freedom from civil disobedience in their country, Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated fighting for the equal rights of the African Americans and other minority groups. In fact, as far back as history can tell us, the democratic system in Europe, as perfect and as functional as it might had been then, still needed some cosmetic surgery to make room for the inclusion of all people.
After centuries of monarchy and representative democracy, an English philosopher John Locke introduced the principles of liberal democracy in the 1600s. These principles also embraced the concept of natural law, which guarantees natural rights (rights – to life, certain liberties, ownership of property, and fruits of one’s labor). From this concept, came the idea of “social contract with governing bodies” that would allow citizens to institute their own governments. These governments shall uphold all obligations in the contract and protect all citizens, and make laws. Equally so, the citizens must abide by these laws. This concept was also expanded and modified in the 1700s by French philosopher, Jean-Jacques Rousseau with a radical view that ordinary people should have a saying in how government is run. The declaration of independence of the United States stems from these particular principles. Today the United States of America is the pillow of modern liberal democracy.
We believe this is the primary reason why people of all races migrate to United States of America. Why now then, today, as victims of unjust and corrupt political and social system, should certain group of people want to revert to such a practice in a nation of laws and orders? Probably the 2009 Elections Commission of GGAA would be well equipped to respond to this question in the court of law in the very near future. Meanwhile, Mr. Glay will hold on to his position until all issues are settled.
But amid all this (law suit against the Election commission, rejection of elections results by Glay-Yoway Team, violation of constitution by the commission), the elections commission still has no regard for the voice of the majority of Grand Gedeans, including the elders who had already rejected the commission’s behavior. Up to now, Glay-Yoway had not been officially informed about the results of the elections. Yet few seconds later, without considering the concerns raised by the Glay-Yoway team, Mr. Isaac Vowal – a board chairman who was just less than five hours old on the job – conspired with commission and clandestinely sworn in the Mrs. Kannah as the Association’s new president. Mrs. Kannah, on the other hand, is masquerading around as president when in fact, if everything were to go well, the official take-over is not until September 5, 2009.
GGAA’s constitution again stipulates that after a presidential election, the president-elect does not assume leadership until after the inauguration in September. On June 10 and 11 the disputed secretary-elect and the Board respectively wrote Mr. Glay requesting him to immediately relinquish leadership and turn in all Association’s documents to the disputed leadership of Martha Kannah. The board also wrote to inform Glay that Martha Kannah is the new official spokesperson for the Association. When Glay defeated Dennis in 2007, he was not sworn into office until Dennis offered his concession three weeks later. Glay was ceremoniously sworn in by the board on June 20, 2007, but did not assume leadership until after inauguration in September. Mr. Gbortoe officially turned over months later to the incoming Glay’s leadership.
The actions of both election commission and the board of directors resemble that of military coups d’état in the Third World, where there are no smooth transitions. Announcing false elections results to one party and swearing in a defeated candidate few minutes later, as a winner, is a gross violation of the constitution and the rights of all Grand Gedeans. The action of both the elections commission and the board of directors is dangerous for the Association and its members. Based on the letter written by the Board, Mrs. Kannah went to the bank account of GGAA without the consent of the treasurer who is the only signatory to the account and withdrew all of the Association’s money (over $33,000). Although it might sound illegal, but the bank acted on a letter that was written by the Board chairman in Chicago, IL and notarized in Atlanta, GA.
All indications demonstrate that Mr. Henry Glay is the winner of the last election. Dispatching supporters of Martha Kannah to Rochester, New York, to conduct alleged bribery is a reflection of a presidential campaign gone wrong and signs of desperations on the part of individuals who are determined to be leaders at all cost , irrespective of the methods by which they obtain power. And as Grand Gedeans, we will never allow such trickery and hypocrisy to go untouched. ELECTIONS COMMISSION, the disenfranchised Grand Gedeans and their supporters are prepared to see you in court. Please Stand TALL!
Comments (10)
1. 25-06-2009 12:22
Grand Gedeh Association Might be heading
Mr. Slanger, I will come back to address some of the half truh you wrote in your part II, but quickly, let me inform the reading public that you were also in Rochester, NY to inflame the situation in the association. What do you hope to achieve at the end of this fiasco Mr. Slanger? Will the change of the election results restore your image in Liberia? Will it help to change the mind set of Liberians who believe that you are associated with criminal activities? What is wrong with your guys from that part of Grand Gedeh County? Did let spoil it and fix it later help in the 80s? I guess your answer will be yes, because you guys are oblivious when it comes to power.
Thank you Mr. Slanger for all of this detail information. We in Liberia did not know all this. We thought the election was free and fair and Glay was trying to play hard head. From what you wrote in article I and article II we now know that the people from the other team (the Kannah Team) were really cheating with the help of elections commission and the so-called board of directors. Y'all must make sure that the woman return the association's money in-full. You must call the American police people on those that are trying steal the liberian refugees' money.
3. 25-06-2009 16:21
Cheaters Must Face the Court of Law
Mr. Nyenteh Gaye,
I don't understand why you're attacking Mr. Slanger. I don't think it is right for you to attack Mr. Slanger. You should be glad that people like Slanger who had liberated people are here to set record straight for all of us. i don'y know how long you have been in Philadelphia, but Slanger was here and served as one of the powerful chapter presidents in the Association. He worked with Mr. Nyanue in 2002 and brought in Mr. Gbala, Mr. Breeze and his own brother Edward Slanger. Today he there with you in the America because of his health. most people that have gone as far as MR. Slanger will not bother associatiing with you. But because of his love for the people Grand Gedeh, he is always taking part whenever his health partmits him. So please your hatred attitude to yourself. All the krahn people are the same. I will write when you anything negative about him.
4. 25-06-2009 20:09
Do Something Meaningful
Please allow me to reintroduce this piece (again):
Jackson Towah posted the information below on May 30, 2009 on LiberianForum.com. It was his response to Henry Kohn Glay's article - "Glay calls for calm" (posted on the LiberianForum.com on Friday May 29, 2009).
Glay Needs Help
Glay is just a disgrace to our team.
There were simple election rules and others tried to violate them.
Those guys from NY didn't meet registration deadline. I still don't understand why Glay is supporting them?
As loyal as Jackson Towah is to Glay, do you believe he would have responded to Glay's article in such a manner if he did not have sufficient evidence to substantial his claim? I don't think so. I was at the voting site on May 24, 2009 from 10:00 a.m. until around 4:00 p.m. and I agree with Towah - anyone who did not vote on May 24 was not qualified to do so because he or she did not meet certain guidelines.
The group from upstate New York did not vote because they failed to follow simple elections rules. JD, you, I and others close to this situation know that there were many attempts that individuals made to have these people registered through the right process. Some of the attempts included calling and emailing Glay, communicating with Arthur Quaye and Karla to follow the rules, but Glay and his folks refused to follow the rule of law.
After these many attempts to get Glay and his team to comply failed because of noncompliance from Glay and his Folks, these concerned individuals moved on. It was not until Sunday, May 24, 2009 during the elections that Glay and his folks decided to do the do the right thing (or the wrong thing). The deadline for voter's registration was May 15, 2009, why then would Glay and his people want the rules of the game to change in the middle of the game? So you see there was no cheating on the part of the commission.
If there were any cheating or violation taking place at the elections grounds according to your claims, I am sure that you would have raged hell about it during that time. From my observation, it was Bai Gbala and others from the Glay camp that violated and attempted to violate several of the elections guidelines. They openly campaigned at the elections site when they asked almost every elderly voter who came through to vote for Glay. You and I know that this was a violation of the commission's no campaigning on elections grounds rules. When an innocent voter approached Gbala and his counterparts to stop violating the rules, you know that one of Glay's supporters pushed that lady to the grounds, only because she asked the "elders" to abide by the elections rules.
I traveled to Glay's campaign headquarters - Bong Mine Bridge- when I left the elections grounds. What I saw there did not represent people who were angry about disenfranchisement or elections irregularities. I saw jubilance, because you were all optimistically anticipating favorable elections results. When this did not happen as you had hoped, the story changed - why?
You guys need to move on because Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas, Inc. is moving on. The money that you are spending on lawyers, you should use it to do something meaningful in Grand Gedeh County.
5. 25-06-2009 21:13
Please Be Informed
I am not sure if JD is referring to the same constitution in parts of his article, but I have copied and pasted exact quotes from the constitution - please be informed.
Section 1: General Elections
(a) Election for national officers, including the leadership of the Board, shall be held once every two (2) years during the National Conference Article V, Section 2(a).
(b) Voting shall be by secret ballots.
(c) National officers elected, along with the newly elected leadership of the Board of Directors, shall immediately be sworn in by the outgoing chairman of the Board of Directors or, in absence, the outgoing co-chairman of the Board of Directors or, in his absence, an individual to be selected by the elected National President.
(d) Members of the National Board of Directors be elected by their respectively chapters, and the Board constituted prior to the national elections.
(e) Only Bona fide members, as defined in Article III, Section 3(a), of the Association shall be eligible to vote in a national election.
(f) Challenges to the conduct and results of elections shall be made immediately upon the announcement plain of the election results. The Conference shall take immediate steps with due diligence to dispose of all such matters during its setting. Only the session of the National Conference during which the elections are held shall have the power to investigate the conduct of the elections and institute corrective measures, if necessary. Election shall be held on the last day of the convention.
Section 4: Tenure of Elected Officers
(a) All elected officers of the association, except members of the National Board of Directors, shall hold office for two (2) years, commencing from the date of the National Election. Elected officers may be eligible for re-election, provided that no person shall hold the same elective office for more than four (4) consecutive years.
(b) Immediately upon the swearing-in of the new administration into office, the National Conference shall set aside from the National Treasury an amount of $2,000.00 to underwrite the cost of inauguration of the new administration. If the Treasury lacks sufficient funds to cover the amount herein provided for, the National Conference shall tax each member chapter, on prorated basis of membership, to offset the difference.
(c) Inauguration for the new administration, intended only for fundraising and social interaction, shall be held in the month of September (See Article The venue of the program shall be determined by the new National Administration.
Article X: Finance
Section 4: Turning over of Financial and other Records
(a) After the newly elected National Officers have been duly inducted into office, the out-going administration shall immediately turn over, to the in-coming administration, all bank records of the Association. All other records and properties of the association shall be turned over the in-coming administration within thirty (30) days after the election.
(b) Within 60 days of the turning over of records, the National Treasurer, through the National President, shall notify the Board of Directors of any discrepancies that may exist between the financial records and the report of the out-going president on the state of the financial affairs of the Association.
The Board and the National Administration shall take the necessary steps, including legal actions, to have the outgoing administration reconcile the discrepancies.
Glay's two-year term ended on May 24, 2009.
6. 26-06-2009 12:10
Paye Sowah
I am not attacking Mr. Slanger as you would want the reading public to believe. I am only questioning his actions relative to the situation in the Grand Gedeh association. As for Slanger chapter presidency, the records are out there. He took $400.00 dollars from the association's account in the name of helping another Grand Gedeans and never reimbursed the association. It turns out in our Liberian words "he was looking for waman" with our money. Besides, there are many other financial problems that Mr. Slanger left behind after his failed attempt for second term. He was let off the hook because of peace sake. He took the same attitude to Monrovia, but Bryant and Janeh were not Grand Gedeans who were very soft and forgiving. They locked him up and when he failed a false bond,he ran away under the cover of darkness through the Ivory Coast. If Slanger was that volatile, how come he was unable to address himself to the financial mismanagement at the Beuaru of Maritime? He would have said sometime to set the records straight at all cost if his hands were clean.
He did not bring Breeze, Gbala, and Edward Slanger to the United States on his own. It was the united effort of all Grand Gedeans, who thought it was time to take their fellow kinsmen out of the lion dan. He did not buy air tickets for all of them except his brother Edward Slanger. How can he take credit for the effort of Grand Gedeh citizens? Their travel was the united effort of all Grand Gedeans period.
His association with Grand Gedeans is meaningless, because he is a damaged political goods in our midst. What can he contribute as a fugutive from justice in Liberia? We are praying for him to get well and return to doing his normal activities, but not in Liberia because he is wanted there. Impressing upon the minds of the reading public that he is only in the United States for health sake, is an illusion. I defy him to set foot on Liberian soil while Ellen is in control. By the way, do you know that it ALLEGED, he and his MODEL crew took some money from Ellen and voted against her in Accra?
Again I am attacking Mr. Slanger, instead Iam questioning his actions and motive in the past election. I am also concern about the many lies he's telling the public about the election.
My dear brother Gaye, Personal and verbal attacks against each other are not the way to go in these debates. They must be about an an idea to create opportunities for all, without regard to class, sections, or gender, in Grand Gedeh or Liberia for that matter. Therefore, we must be civil and courteous to those we genuinely disagree with during these debates. We hope that our dear brother Slanger alleged issues with the Liberian Government should and must not preclude him from these debates as a son of Grand Gedeh County. In my option, if the brother is to be challenged because of what he wrote, we must challenge and debate him only on ideas and issues that are expressed in the brother writing. On the other hand, we encouraged you to write on any subject and express your self because it is you right. However, we are only asking that it be done with civility because we are all from Grand Gedeh and we are all brothers and sisters. For your understanding, we like to say thanks Mr. Gaye.
8. 26-06-2009 20:04
Paye Sowah
Good Observation
Mr. Toe, if every Grand Gedean can think like you, I am of an opinion that we all will be free to communicate and point our differences without problem.
9. 27-06-2009 16:16
Heading for a crisis?
The Grand Gedeh Association is not heading for a crisis, rather, the organization is embroiled in crises. On a constant basis, we hear about how Slanger got locked up or how he stole money. We also hear about how the NY delegation was badly treated during the time of the election. Glay comes in with a beggage. He's often accused of gross incompetence. Out in the mix is the Kanneh woman who according sources, is "not connected or is out of touch" to the meanstream Grand Gedeans. Let's call this "crises".
It's always good to see a body of people hang together to promote oneness. But, it's sad to see how people's personalities play in an open arena. Grand Gedeans seem to be be losing the cohesiveness they've once cherished. Is it because their personalities are clashing with one another? Could be, but I think there's more to it.
Originally, the Grand Gedeans were not cohesive. Before Doe became president of Liberia, most of the natives of Grand Gedeh were not socially inclined. There weren't as many Grand gedeh associations as they are today. The Doe connection gave them the push. Frankly, there's nothing wrong with that! In the past, most Grand Gedeans went about their business like every Liberian in order to survive. But, the dynamics of things changed when Doe, their native son, sat in the throne of the president. Sadly, the time has gone with the wind and there exists a climate of "soul-searching".
What's going on? What needs to be done in order for things to quickly improve? Few suggestions come to mind immediately: * Re-write your constitution that will allow a president to serve for a two-year term. The fancy name for that is called "term limits". The state of Virginia has term limits in their governorship. It works! * Because money is always a problem in most (if not all Liberian organizations) the members should mandate that two or three projects be financed in Liberia within a two-year period. Why? Because it limits the activities of the president. The more he/she serves, the more trouble arises in the money department.
* Checks that go out to assist Liberians at home should not be co-signed by the president. Never! Please.
I hope the Grand gedeans are listening!
10. 28-06-2009 17:20
Wow
I agree with post #9, we are in a situation that makes no sense. But fisrt let me commend the author for this posting. Whoever you are, please allow me to thank you for the beautiful piece on our crises.
What is going on in the Grand Gedeh association has nothing to do with our constitution for the most part, but a group of people from one session who believe that power belongs to them in the county. Sadly, Grand Gedeans blindly elected a guy who has no ability whatsoever to lead two years ago and they are now paying dearly for their mistakes. This guy defeated another Grand Gedean in Des moines, Iowa with just seven votes in an elections filled with lot of descripencies. Mr. Paye Dennis peacefully and gently accepted the results and conceded in good faith to this incompetent, half literate power greedy man for the sake of our association. He was soundly defeated by a female with just eight votes and he is running all over the place with JD Slanger and others trying to destroy what they did not put together.
The actions of Glay and Slanger clearly exemplified what the nation went trough for ten consecutive years;disrespect for the rule of law.
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