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 Madam President, Greatness Demands Accountability and Results.
A cloud of corruption, incompetence and arrogance cloud President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf’s administration. One wonders how much more a fractured
country, still recovering from a civil war, can take.
We, the Liberian people must rally to demand accountability and transparency from the leader of our republic.
In the past couple of years, the scope of corruption has increased, along with the lack of political will to address this pernicious decline. We need an intense, concerted effort by the Liberian Diaspora, and citizens residing in Liberia , to hold Liberian leaders accountable. It is time to organize mass rallies that include but are not limited to lobbying international organizations, including the United States Congress to expose these issues.
We should start registering our displeasure with the seeming lack of urgent attention to these issues with peaceful rallies both at home and abroad, particularly when Madame President is on foreign trips to incant her Excellency to act more quickly and decisively to address these issues. If this does not produce the desired actions from our leaders, we will then take the more drastic action of exposing these issues directly to the international community and partners, including the President of the United States of America and the US Congress. The implication is big –– some would call it ‘the Nuclear Option”, but this may be our last opportunity to bring about measurable change.
It is customary that when a president leaves office and becomes a private citizen, she writes her memoirs; join the lecture circuit that pays obscene amounts of money, or start a foundation to promote an international social cause. Many presidents have written books or had books written about them after their presidencies ended. However, in the midst of her presidency, amidst her country's rebuilding and healing process, President Sirleaf took the time to write her much publicized memoir entitled: This Child Will Be Great: Memoir of a Remarkable Life by Africa's First Woman President. Who has ever heard of a sitting head of state, taking time out from her presidential duties to write a book? A book that exalts her accomplishments, though limited as they are since assuming leadership. When she should be busy actually accomplishing something, worth writing about.
Well Madam President, with all due respect, you can’t assume the title of "great" without accountability and results. While it is quite possible that Madame Sirleaf may in fact turn out to be “great”, at this time we merely see an empty title given her seeming lack of bold leadership in addressing the cancer of corruption that continues to plague the Country. A world leader's greatness produces improved standards of living, abundant new sources of lucrative employment for citizens, top-notched public education, not just credentials, adequate medical care, a strong legal system, freedom from crime, and strengthened infrastructure.
It’s almost four years into her administration and pillaging by the simple-minded and egotistical individuals continue at a pace that seem to even exceed even her predecessors. This is a very low standard indeed! Every day, we hear about more cases of graft, injustice and nepotism. Most recently Frontpageafrica news organization reported a massive financial scandal involving Minister Rev. Dr. Laurence C. Bropleh, Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT) along with two of his financial officials: Joseph Nyamunue, Controller and Josiah B.S. Gwagee, Chief Accountant. Immediately after the scandal was reported, both the Controller and Chief Accountant were arrested and detained. However, Mr. Bropleh (one of the alleged participants in the scandal) was merely ordered by the President to cut short his visit to China , and return to Liberia . Upon his return, he was not arrested like his fellow accused. Instead he was suspended and invited by the National Police and members of the law enforcement agency for questioning. Where is the equity when low level employees are the first to be arrested and placed in jail, and the Minster is free? Why is the Minister merely invited for a few hours of interrogation pending a long term investigation? Minister Bropleh was given preferential treatment due to his office, and not treated justly; equitable justice would have been served in the form of his immediate arrest like his alleged accomplices.
Minister Bropleh is yet another shameful example of corruption and injustice run amok. Mr. Bropleh was brought in as Minster to create the appropriate mechanism to prevent these kinds of financial crimes. It is extremely disturbing when the so-called financial liberators are in fact the financial oppressors. Furthermore, Mr. Bropleh is a man of the cloth and should be held to a much higher standard. It makes you wonder whether or not it's even possible to find an honest person in President Sirleaf's administration.
There is a mountain of evidence stacked against Minister Bropleh. In the event that he is found innocent of these changes, which most Liberians doubt, he should not be reinstituted due to his inability to lead effectively. Thus he is guilty of gross negligence, incompetence and dereliction of duty.
These single-mindedly self-absorbed members of President Sirleaf's inner circle are united by common characteristics. They are focused on power –– not on the uses of power to enhance the lives of Liberians, but rather as a means to receive hero worship. They are partial to blame-shifting, and hypocrisy. How can you explain paying the head of a government agency $20,000 to $25,000 US monthly when you can’t buy an X-ray machine or an ambulance for the once prestigious John F, Kennedy Medical Center ? Where is the equity when the head of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs is making $20,000 to $25,000 US a month while ordinary Liberians are making less than $70.00 monthly. What are the requirements for a $25,000 monthly salary and how was it determined? For a country with more than 80% unemployment, where is the sense of equity? Qualified Liberians should be justly compensated; I’m all for just and proper rewards. However, what is fair compensation versus excess? Everyone except the President and her cronies have sacrificed for Mama Liberia .
Frontpageafrica.com recently reported that the Chairman of the Board of the National Port Authorities, Binyah Kesselly vowed that those who leaked the memo to the public, revealing the salary increment for the Managing Director and her six deputies would be fired on grounds that the act is a breach of confidentiality. According to FPA, Mr. Kesselly went on to say “Whoever gives out those documents, we do not care that you gave it out to show information, but if you went and gave out that confidential document, You Will be Fired - End of Discussion End of Story.” How can it be viewed as appropriate for Mr. Kesselly, the Head of the Board of the National Port Authority to take individual action as though he were working for a private entity, rather than a government agency. Due to the outrage of the Liberian people President Sirleaf came out with a strong statement saying that no one would be fired for this leak. The Liberian people have the right to know how much their leaders are earning, including the president, ministers, and heads of all government agencies. The person that leaked the salary to the public did his fellow Liberians a favor. Liberians have the right to know how much their officials are making. Only issues of national security should not be disclosed. There is nothing confidential about the salary of civil servants, or elected and appointed government officials.
The Liberian people expected President Sirleaf to be Liberia ’s George Washington, a trailblazer and fearless leader that would take our country to greatness. For three years, Liberians waited patiently for reforms. We were hopeful that President Sirleaf would bring the right people into government to serve the State, rather than to serve selfish interests.
Madam President if things don’t change within your administration, Liberians all over the world will start demonstrating against your administration, and organizing mass protests where ever you go. The Nuclear Option – informing the members of the United States Congress, will be our final effort to bring about the needed reform. We have no desire to use this option, because it may dry out international perception of Liberia ’s good will. However, the choice is yours Madam President –– bring about reform or we will do it for you.
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About the author:
Rufus S. Berry II, (former President of the Liberian Community Association of Northern California - LCANC) a resident of the San Francisco Bay Area (Northern California), and the author of many articles including: “Liberia's Long History of Corruption, Facilitated by Citizens that Turn a Blind Eye on the Government”, “Appointment of Benoni Urey: Is the President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf Incompetent or Corrupt.”, " Liberia's National Security Alert: President Johnson-Sirleaf's Government Needs Discipline to Stay the Course", and Ban Smoking in Public Venues Now.
He can be reached at (510) 393-1825 or
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