1. 06-08-2008 13:23

our shame

At the time a senator from Grand Gedeh county is being suspended by his colleagues for basically being an opportunist, incompetent and corrupt, we are still dealing with the lack of accountability in our community in the diaspora. This scholarship scandal allegation has been around for a very long time. And the "wait and see" attitude is not helping to bring about a resolution. 
What is the story behind the Grand Gedeh Scholarship program? Is Jackson Towah right? He has documentation to prove his points, you know. 
But those implicated have yet to provide contrary evidence to what jackson has. It does not matter what type of person Jackson and his supporters are. The fact is, was there a scholarship program which benefitted deserving Grand gedeans? From the evidence Jackson has demonstrated, there was not.These Grand Gedeans, apparently deserve better than this.  
You know in our krahn tradition, whenever an individual is accused of anything, they have a burden of proof to show that their accusers are wrong. I can recollect in the sixties when a respected paramount chief was accused of witch craft by an individaul who was not even qualified to tie his shoes. This individual from Zeon town, Tchien Zonnie, did not even have a wife or a hut to stay in. But he still accused the paramount chief of witchcraft The paramount chief, on the other hand, did not dismiss the accusation but went on to clear his name. He did that by way of sassaiwood. He was found not guilty. There was big celebration in Zwedru at the time. This is what is needed in the Grand Gedeh association corruption allegations. Prove your innocence by submitting contrary evidence like was done when the "Status Report" was submmitted. In this case you need hard evidence to disprove Jackson Towah. 
whatever the case, these are no better days for Grand Gedeh people. 
 
Joseph Solo

2. 06-08-2008 14:39

The people say you all stole money!!!

To the below listed individuals: The people are saying that you all have linked to $31,500.00 scholarship scam.  
The public expects to hear from you all. Maybe you do not understand what I am say here, let me put it the Liberian way.  
My people, the people are saying that you people have stolen money. What do you have to say? They are saying that you the below listed individuals lied to the people of Grand Gedeh County , took their money, pretended that you were collecting the money for the purpose of giving scholarship to our brothers and sisters in Liberia. Did you steal the money? They you all stole? 
1. Mr. Seo Davis 
2. William G. Nyanue former President 2002-2005  
3. Sophia Nyanue former Chairperson 1999-2007  
4. David Gbortoe former President 2005-2007  
5. Annie Zeon Nyonly former Treasurer 2002-2005  
6. Tay Doe former Treasurer 2005-2007

3. 07-08-2008 12:52

Sr. Programmer/Analyst

If I can record, Jackson Wonde Sr. Deputy Minister of Labour for the republic of Liberia was also a part of the Nyanue administration. He will soon be indicted by the state of Pennsylvania on Charges of Theft by Deceiption. Legal Proceedings are on the way in PA.

4. 07-08-2008 18:26

The Krahn people

Most of the Krahn people seem to lack managerial,leadership, and political skills needed in today's world. These people were in government for ten years in Liberia,yet they are among the worst set of people today both in America and in Liberia. Those that are in the present Liberian government seem to be very confuse and unprepared for the task. Those that are heading organizations of Grand Gedeans in America seem to be incapable,ineffective and incompetent. 
For God sake, when will these people learn to do the appropiate things in this modern age? I really hate to sound collective,but I think most of the krahn people are just bad off.

5. 07-08-2008 20:56

Innocent until proven guilty

Tim, 
Your line of reasoning is steeped in fallacies. Because you know a few Krahn people that were not good managers, you generalize that all Krahn people are not good managers. This is very poor inductive reasoning. Before you can reach such a sweeping conclusion about Krahn people, you have to base your research on a large sample of the Krahn population and not merely your knowing a few Krahn people in government and the few that are being indicted on this forum. Your writing indicates that you are more intelligent than you have demonstrated in your comment. It appears as though your intent is to be disrespectful of the Krahn people as a whole rather than to provide any objective analysis of the issue that the author wishes to address. This simply amounts to taking cheap shots at the Krahn people and it is very unfortunate. 
 
That said, I think that this tact of indicting and convicting our fellow Liberians on the internet is a very insidious venture. While we should not condone any form of criminal behavior, if we truly feel that these people are culpable of a crime, they should be afforded the right to defend themselves in a court of law. Perhaps the author has all evidence that will lead to their convictions; he should honor the long-standing precept of justice that asserts that they are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, contrary to Mr. Solo's assertion that they should prove themselves innocent. This idea of criminalizing these people on the internet, some of whom could very well be innocent, simply amounts to a form of vigilante justice. Even murderers are afforded more courtesy than is being demonstrated here.

6. 07-08-2008 23:24

Innocent until proven guilty

Mr.K.Koiquoe Wilson,how dare you misrepresent my position to make a point? There is nothing in my post that suggested that all krahn people are poor managers. I said "MOST" krahn people. If "Most" represents "ALL" in the English language,then I am wrong and will apology to the krahn people. But unfortunately it is not so in the English language: "MOST" in the English language means:Consisting of the greatest number or quantity; greater in number or quantity than all the rest.  
I think your attempt to make a point through misrepresentation clearly speak of your intellectual dishonesty that should be brought to light.

7. 08-08-2008 07:28

Defending the Indefensible

Tim, 
You must accept that your comment in post #4 is indefensible and not try to shroud it in semantics. Even if we were to accept your excuse that you meant that “most” Krahn people are poor managers as opposed to “all” Krahn people, you are still incapable of defending such a disparaging assertion that seems intended to collectively demean an entire group of people. Besides, can you prove that “these people [Krahns] are the worst of people today,” as you asserted in your comment? 
 
You must acknowledge that your entire comment was intent upon being blatantly derogatory. All I am saying is that such attitude does not serve to further the issue at bar in any intelligent way. We have seen enough of these type of discussions where one type of Liberian try to belittle another. In fact we lived this behavior for a very protracted period and look where it has gotten Liberia. We must value our diversity. Where a given Liberian is bent on being corrupt, we must condemn him with reckless abandon, but we must not use such as a means of unnecessarily indicting an entire group of Liberians.

8. 08-08-2008 08:54

our shame

There we go again, Quoi quoi Wilson, talking abou issues that you really don't know much about. But this time around, i will just make one post addressed to you on this issue. What you don't understand is that some of us are close to these issues and feel strongly about them. i know that Tim is wrong for applying the theory of collective guilt as is alway done in liberian dialogue.The fact that some Grand Gedeans especially those in the Grand Gedeh Association are corrupt, does not mean all Grand gedeans are corrupt. I am a Grand Gedean, Jackson Towah is a Grand Gedean and so are most some people on this forum. What is happening is that we are crying out for help. In an organization like ours, there are two separate units, the Executive and the board. These units suppose to provide check and balances. That is if an allegation is made against a former or present executive officer,the board suppose to do an inquiry and impose discipline. That way, the matter is handled internally. In the Grand Gedeh Association, it is different. The board and the executive are all the same. If you can remember, i was the target of the board, not for stealing money but because I released a press statement calling on the liberian government to release General Julu and others. The goal was to silence me because I was also raising questions about serious financial improprities. But when I got frustrated about the whole thing, I resigned. It should not surprise you to know that since my resignation, effective, May 31, 2008, the board has not had a meeting. 
So, Mr. Wilson, this is the state of the GGAA.All of these allegations are documented but the board will not act. In fact some present and former board members are implicated. The vice president just resigned three days ago. But those who are successful leaders in the organization are the ones who embezzled money, bounced checks intended to pay funeral expensives, spending thousands of dollars to support a scholarship program that doe not exist, writing false reports etc. I know these things because I was the secretary general of the organization from May,2007-2008. 
Finally, please be aware,Mr. Wilson that indiduals will not just sit down and make wild allegations against fellow grand Gedeans. You know there are laws against that. So, check your facts and be rational in making your assessments. 
 
joseph Solo

9. 08-08-2008 09:47

Justice, not Vengeance

Mr. Solo, 
The FBI, the chief investigate arm of the U.S. Government, was very certain that a government scientist, Steven Hatfill, was culpable in perpetrating the 2001 anthrax assault that killed numerous people. Recently, the government paid $6 million as restitution for publicly disgracing this scientist and bringing him into such dubious repute. The FBI has since pinpointed the late government scientist, Bruce Ivin, as their perpetrator of the crime. This latest revelation is being viewed with great public skepticism. 
 
If the eminently experience FBI with all of its abundant resources can be egregiously wrong in these types of allegations, so can you Mr. Solo. What then happens to the reputation of those people whom you have so publicly disgraced? What is obtaining on this forum is not intended to achieve justice, it is instead intended at being vengeful. We must strive not to let such negative emotion supersede our objectivity irrespective of our differences with those in question that we oppose. Publicly stigmatizing these people before bringing charges against them is not consistent with justice. We must seek to be governed by justice and not vengeance.

10. 08-08-2008 12:15

CONTRADICTIONS

Mr Wilson takes Tim to task for putting a stigma on a group of people, a noble stance I should add. I just wonder whether Mr Wilson should adhere to those same principles himself.For a reminder I posted his article in which he decided to castigate the Lebanese.THOSE WHO LIVE IN GLASS HOUSES SHOULD NEVER THROW STONES. 
 
 
 
 
 
A Rebuttal of Mr. Bai Gbala’s Article - “Lebanese Demand Liberia Poll Rights: A Rejoinder” 
 
By K. Koiquoe Wilson - (September 13th 2005)  
 
"... There is a fundamental precept of humanity that asserts “To whom much has been given, much should be expected.” By every possible barometer, the Lebanese in Liberia have failed to fulfill this rudimentary human principle.... One cannot begin to imagine the astronomical profits that went into the coffers of these avaricious Lebanese businessmen, so-called, while gullible Liberians mired in poverty in their attempts to hit the elusive JOKER - JOKER - JOKER for the big bucks on the slot machines. Now we know who the joke was on....."  
 
 
 
I read, with precipitous disdain I must admit, the article by Mr. Bai Gbala, entitled “Lebanese Demand Liberia Poll Rights: A Rejoinder.” This article, which zealously advocates the citizenship and voting rights of Lebanese and espouses their ownership of land in Liberia, is utterly lacking in its discernment and long-range perspective and, quite frankly, borders on treachery. Such antiquated thinking, as postulated by Mr. Gbala, which is steeped in hypocrisy, is reminiscent of the kinds that have exacted such chronic poverty upon Liberia for time immemorial and has caused Liberia’s continued atrophy. One can delineate any number of such scenarios as the annals of Liberia abound with such cases. The unconscionable allowance of unscrupulous government officials for the blatant pilferage of Liberia’s resources by Firestone, with its 99-year contract for one million acres of rich Liberian farmland at $10.00 per year, while paying its Liberian workers two cents per hour, comes to mind. Without delving into all of the unsavory aspects of this contract, this insanity enabled the reckless and protracted abuse of Liberia’s resources with astounding cupidity while its people mired in the most deplorable squalor. Mr. Gbala’s proposal engenders this ominous tenor and I could not beg to differ with him more vigorously. 
 
I am no anthropologist, but I will venture to posit, as it is my ardent conviction, that Liberians are inherently a very generous people and no people have enjoyed this generosity more and have been afforded the level of hospitality and friendship that Liberians have bestowed upon their Lebanese community. For decades, Liberia has amicably welcome this group to her shores and has afforded them unprecedented opportunities to develop themselves economically and otherwise. It is primarily this facility for economic enfranchisement that has drawn Lebanese to Liberia in droves. And yes, their dreams of fulfilling the acme of opulence has been actualized under the aegis of the Liberian people. This, my friends, is no anomaly but a direct result of the compassion of the Liberian people. 
 
But how have the Lebanese reciprocated to such altruistic hospitality? After attaining immeasurable wealth, they sequestered themselves in sumptuous diaspora from which the indigenous of the land are alienated. Assuming this aloof and condescending posture while feigning superficial friendliness, their actual relationships with Liberians are relegated to employments of house boys, cooks, store boys, and any number of menial jobs that they would not allow their own people to perform. Can you name any Lebanese house boy of another Lebanese or of a Liberian, for that matter? And for this subjugation, they very frugally reward these so-called employees with pittance. Pittance that is so appallingly paltry that it does not even enable their Liberian employees to defray the livelihood of their family, rendering them an existence of utter penury. Their Lebanese masters, by contrast, bask in the lap of luxury without any compunction within the same country. And yes, Liberians are also eagerly embraced by the Lebanese businessmen when they have to return their earned pittance to Lebanese businesses. For this abject duplicity, Liberians must be immensely grateful according to Mr. Gbala. There is a fundamental precept of humanity that asserts “To whom much has been given, much should be expected.” By every possible barometer, the Lebanese in Liberia have failed to fulfill this rudimentary human principle. 
 
And as if this exploitation of Liberians did not fulfill their insatiable avarice, even while they availed themselves of the country‘s resources, they insidiously resorted to the bribery of government officials to enable them further easy extractions of the miniscule pay that Liberians earned. This was accomplished by inundating the country with gambling, a long standing anathema to the Liberian people. How many Liberians do we know who got rich from gambling? The answer is categorically zero. Conversely, any number of anecdotes can be proffered of Liberians standing at slot machines and in one fell swoop, see their entire month’s pay disappear into the pockets of these Lebanese businesses. One cannot begin to imagine the astronomical profits that went into the coffers of these avaricious Lebanese businessmen, so-called, while gullible Liberians mired in poverty in their attempts to hit the elusive JOKER - JOKER - JOKER for the big bucks on the slot machines. Now we know who the joke was on. 
 
The Lebanese have contributed massively to the corruption of government officials in Liberia. Myriad occurrences of such corruption can be cited. One of the most notorious incidences being their alleged bribery of the Chief Justice of Liberia, who, through a legerdemain of biblical proportion, absolved a Lebanese murderer from charges brought for egregiously choking to death a Liberian student. This Liberian only crime was while he performed his menial job as a store boy in their supermarket, he opted to quench his hunger with candy that his meager pay could not afford him. He was murdered during his master’s attempt to wrest the candy from his throat. Anecdotes of this magnitudes are manifold and could be cited if one were so predisposed. Urban legend has it that but for his disposition of this case, the Chief Justice of Liberia at the time would have survived the 1980 infamous executions because ultimately he was a good person.  
 
For all of these unadulterated iniquities visited upon a country that so graciously welcome the Lebanese to its shores, they must now be further rewarded according to Mr. Gbala, with the opportunity to literally render Liberians homeless for financial expediency. Given this opportunity, it is unequivocal that they will achieve this with great ingenuity and alacrity. What is Mr. Gbala’s next goal for his people, the Liberian presidency? 
 
It is pertinent that a quote from Mr. Gbala’s article be cited here as it vividly presents a window into his mindset as to why Liberia must further capitulate to the Lebanese. He asserts, “To get an idea or the whole picture of Lebanese tight grip on and contribution to the Liberian economy, one needs a comprehensive study of the Liberian trade and commerce market – from clothes and shoes, all types and class; dry-cleaning and tailoring; foods of all sorts, displayed and sold in many altra-modern supermarkets; building materials for all needs and purposes; household utensils and electrical appliances; automobiles – America, European, Japanese, etc.; drugs and petroleum products; book and newspaper printing; furniture and related manufacture; real state brokerage (although the Lebanese are not permitted to own real property); hotels and restaurants; now the worldwide expansion of computer use and sales and service; and the now-popular cellular telephone business. Need anything? Name it; if the friendly Lebanese trader does not have it in stock, he/she can order it.”  
 
Rather poignantly, performance of these functions that are akin to rocket science as embellished by the eminent Mr. Gbala, though any perceptive person would deem them trivial tasks, is why we must now surrender our homes to the Lebanese. Is it not a confounding paradox that the same government officials that arbitrarily gave these functions to the Lebanese exclusively, for mercenary gains of course, are now professing to be the arbiter of whether Liberia needs the consummate expertise of the Lebanese to perform these very functions? The “chicken and the egg” paradox being rehashed all over again, if you will. Take any of the above enumerated functions, our illiterate, yet assiduous market women with very minimal training, are capable of performing these mundane tasks. We have all witnessed their steadfastness and resilience in overwhelming adversities. But because they, and even their more erudite counterparts, were not afforded the opportunity to become conversant with these tasks and the Lebanese were able to convince our inept government officials that these are extraordinary undertakings which only the Lebanese can achieve, with their hands deeply in the pockets of these unctuous officials of course, Liberians have been denied the opportunity to partake of these activities.  
 
Moreover, the Lebanese did not bestow any largess upon Liberia by investing their own money in the country. Whatever money they invested were attained in Liberia at the expense of Liberians. Invariably, they came to Liberia having no net worth but were eventually able to attain wealth on the backs of Liberians and the aid of the “Lebanese Networks” that tend to subsidize only their Lebanese compatriot. These people are no paragon of good citizenship by any stretch of the imagination as Mr. Gbala portrays them. 
 
Perhaps a fitting hypothetical, which is a microcosm of Mr. Gbala’s proposal, will help to exemplify the antithetical nature of his logic, as there are those amongst us that have a problem grasping “the big picture.” Lets suppose Mr. Gbala takes a guest who is in dire financial straits into his home ultimately for the purpose of helping this guest recuperate from his doldrums. He renders this guest all necessary hospitality that could be afforded him at Mr. Gbala’s expense. Eventually, the acquisitive nature of his guest prevails and propels him into affluence of inordinate proportion. Mr. Guest than tells Mr. Gbala, “You have fed me, clothed me, and afforded me opportunities to achieve affluence beyond my wildest dreams. But the reason why you continue to exist in poverty, and the reason why I have not sought to reciprocate your help,” he hypothesizes, “is because you have not granted me co-ownership of your home.” Obviously, Mr. Gbala might want to take this one step further and sign over his deed to Mr. Guest. But the salience of such perversion, unless one is perpetually inebriated, cannot elude the lucid mind. Thus is the case with Mr. Gbala’s proposal. 
 
But is not strikingly ironic that this discourse is not germane to the land ownership rights of those aggrieved Liberians, who have been relegated to such existence of subservience and indignity and may never own an iota of real property in the land of their birth; that the discussion does not pertain to the land ownership potential of our overworked and weary market women who diligently contribute to the well-being of our country but will never be able to afford a modicum of land in the place of their birth; that our humble civil servants, whom our government have failed so miserably, may never be able to afford a fragment of land in the country of their birth; but Mr. Gbala is arguing for the land ownership rights of highly privileged Lebanese while being reticent with regards to these struggling Liberians. I think that Article 22(a) of the Liberian constitution, which Mr. Gbala now seeks to abrogate, was very visionary at its inception, protecting Liberians from the likes of Mr. Gbala. This article stipulates that only citizens shall have the right to own real property.  
 
Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, comprises a measly 43,000 square miles. Is it not sufficiently charitable of us that we are willing to share this modest homeland with people from all walks of life? Do we now have to turn our country over to a specific interest group whom we have so generously stewarded into their dreams of abundance? Less Mr. Gbala be accused of ambiguity in his proposal, what about the land ownership rights of the Ghanians, Ivorians, Guineans, …, all of whom sought to pursue their dreams in “Small America?” Are their dreams negligible as compared to those of the Lebanese or is it only the Lebanese that are of significance to Mr. Gbala? Incidentally, will the Lebanese reciprocate in kind and allow Liberians to purchase land in their country? After assimilating multitudes of Lebanese over as many years, how many Liberians did Lebanon provide sanctuary for during our times of distress? Perhaps the answers to these question should give Mr. Gbala some pause in his fight for land ownership and voting rights for his people. I say this with profound dubiety though as it is axiomatic of the old adage, “You cannot teach an old dog new tricks.” 
 
 
 
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 
 
About the author: 
 
Mr. K. Koiquoe Wilson is a software engineering professional.

11. 08-08-2008 12:54

K.K. Wilson & his view of crime

K.K.Wilson, 
 
I must admit, that you are very good at what you do. You must be a very smart man, but I'm afraid that some folks may misunderstand what you do to generate or keep the intellectual forum active or alive.  
 
In view of the foregoing, You don't really have to comment on subject matter in which you have a short-fall and/or no evidences. I personally only reply to your posts and few others on the forum that can be identify by complete first and last name. 
 
The issue of Grand Gedeh Association in the Americas Inc. is absolutely out of your range. I have stopped the students in Monrovia not to take matter into their own hands, or by this time, Mr. Davis will have paid the price. 
 
They have threatened some two weeks ago to flog Mr. Seo Davis at SOS Children Village near Monrovia. I know more about this GGAA scholarship scam than any Grand Gedeans, because I have the real documents, that even the current administration do not have; I have gave the institutions the entire breakdown, and these institutions have changed most of their official documents for fear of another "gang printing."  
 
I served as Director of Social Services for Salvation Army in Liberia before I took up assignment in Chicago early 2000. We sponsored over three thousands students in different institution in Liberia and Ghana. So I have the first hand understanding on sponsorship in Liberia. 
 
You are not the only person concerned about this scholarship scam. Quite recently, I attended the embassy dinner here in Washington. In Ambassador Charles Minor's speech, he mentioned that the president and him were both concerned and developed interest in what was happening amongst Grand Gedeans in the United States.  
 
He personally used the occasion to invite me at the embassy to talk what he described as "real business." So, we are making progress on all front.  
 
Watch out for a letter to Senator Nyenabo on forum about a year ago than you will understand why Tim came down so strong on my people without me saying "hello Tim."  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
null

12. 08-08-2008 13:59

The Grand Gedeh Problem

I really do not like to respond to all kinds of frivolous matters. But I am forced to do so this time because I am a patriotic Liberian. 
 
I think that most Grand Gedeans are attacking Wilson because he's not a Grand Gedeh native. These rebuttals are hitting Wilson real hard because it smells like "a Grand Gedeh" issue. 
 
I know that it's hard for some people to tell the truth. In this case, others will hit back at me for saying what the truth is. 
 
But my purpose is not to cause confusion at all. The county of Grand Gedeh as well as Lofa (if that's where Wilson is from) are counties of Liberia. 
 
Wilson should be free to discuss something about the affairs of Grand Gedeh because he is (or probably)was a Liberian, pure and simple! 
 
Barak Obama was born in Hawaii. But he has adapted Illinois as his place of operation. If Wilson wishes to intervene in matters of the Grand Gedeans, he should be free to do so. 
 
The problems of Grand Gedeh are not confined only to the natives of that county. 
Grand Gedeh's problems are problems of all Liberians! 
 
If the Liberian Ambassador, Minor, showed leadership by discussing the problems that afflict the Grand Gedeh community in America, that was fine and dandy! For what reason are you stopping another Liberian from getting into the affairs of your county? 
 
It is one thing to say that Wilson is not too familiar with the issues that afflict you. But don't send out the feelers that he should not be butting into the business of Grand Gedeh! Damn it. Grand Gedeh's business is the business of all Liberians. 
 
Personally, I am not from Grand gedeh. But I had an affair with a Grand Gedeh girl, a very beautiful girl! More beautiful than all the Krahns I have known or seen including the ones I see in the streets. During our private moments, we tangled fully and squarely. 
She was not anti-Grand Gedeh. But she constantly told me that she was a Liberian "first" than a Grand Gedean! 
 
That's how things ought to be in the Grand Gedeh community. You guys and women are Liberians first. There are some Grand Gedeans who are very intelligent. They are the ones who'll see or understand my point. 
 
Now, I rest my case.

13. 08-08-2008 14:37

You Are Wrong Brother!

You don't just get it brother. When a script is send to the forum, it is venerable to productive or unproductive criticism regardless of it source and intend. 
 
I am a Grand Gedean who was raised and spend half my life in Lofa. The issue is not where you originated, but It is how inform are you on the issue under discussion.  
 
When articles are send to the Liberian Forum, it is opened for the court of public opinion. However, not because it is opened to the general public, than even if you have no clue just comment. It is wrong and do not make it your habit.  
 
Outside of this issue raised, K.K. Wilson is just a productive contributor to this site. Take care my friend.

14. 08-08-2008 15:27

What is GGA's total worth?

It is a shame for people who considers themselves as intellectuals will come on this public mediun and make complete fool out of themselves. Why would a man looks into the blue sky make allegations foolishly and no one dares to ask this man some simple basic questions. 
If Towah is claiming that $31,000 was embezzled from the GGAA's schlorship funds, the questioon for him and everyone else who wants to believe him beside KK Wilson, will be what was the worth of the entire GGAA at the times in question? I have been a member of this organization since I came to this country during the summer of 1991, and I can tell you all that this organization had never carry a bank balance of $10,000.00 from 91 until Mr. Nyanue came to power in 2004. When Mr. Nyanue came in he met the amount of $2,000.00 in our coffers, and this did not happen because of corruption it was so, because like every other Liberian organization people don't pay dues. Nyanue came and mobilized the few members that was willing to work with and we started working. I served as secretary gen. for the PA chapter and then went on to served as vice president under Mr. M. Kai Whyee then assumed the leadership when Mr. Whyee left for Liberia. During the very Mr. Nyanue who name along with his wife are been tarnished by these people, the organization was able to raised more money than any other previous leadership. There were sound mangerial policies put into place, he brought structure and respect to the organization. I was part of the first team that asked to work on the first scholarship committee, I remembered the first scholarships we give were blanket ones to 45 students at the University of Liberia, essentially we paid everyone tuition for that semeter. The following school year we started with 2 students in 2 disciplines and then 4 til today we have 15 students on schlorship. I can tell anyone that during my time on the committee our budget was just around $3,000.00 and when Mr. Nyanue left office after his 2 terms he left us with the net bal. of 29,567.45, I know this because I am former president of a chapter. 
Nyanue's sucessor was his VP Mr. David Gborto who served for one term and left us with a little over $20,000.00. Now can somebody please tell me how can an organization that did not worth $31,000.00 during the period under review budget that amount for one of its program? Are we talking Liberian dollars here or some other currency? Because we are speaking in terms of U.S. dollars then one can deduce that these claims make no sense. Finally, if we are going to call ourselves intellectuals, we must be very objective in our reasoning for Mr. Tim to make those outlandish genralizations about krahn people tells me either that he is one those Liberians who thinks the word krahn stands for evil, or simply put he is very myopic in his reasoning. In order to move forward as a peaceful nation we must learn to respect other people existence. The problem that I have with Mr. Towah and Solo is these gentlemen had never made any real financial contribution to this organization,but they want us to tell them how our monies are disbursed, and it won't happen we only report to dues members not detractors, until they can contribute meaningfully to this body, the body will not answer to them. Does it ocurr to anyone that out of hundreds of members that we have, only two non members of GGAA are always trying to tarnish good people reputation and always complaining about something, ha something to think about. about.

15. 08-08-2008 15:45

The Grand Gedeh Problem

Tim sweeping sentiments and allegations against all Grand Gedehians was rude and uncalled for. As someone who went to school in that county, specifically Zwedru (Multilateral High), and who has friends from Grand Gedeh, I resent the collect castigation and indicment being meted out by Tim. Some of my Khran friends are the finest and honest that can be found anywhere!

16. 08-08-2008 16:03

Liberian

Bosa or whatever your real name is,( Please say your real name as a man with a point of view) The fact is that You are missing the point. The pont is not becasue Quo quo is or is not a Grand Gedean. Neither does he has monopoly on God's word or Grand Gedeh issues, But sometimes he presents himselve as an authority on any issue, either Grand Gedeh or biblical or spiritual issue. So, I thnik he needs to get a grip. I am sory for posting on this issue when I promised not to do so. 
Joseph Solo

17. 08-08-2008 19:00

What is GGA's total worth?

Mr.Fred Gwyan, not because some of us are keeping silence means there is nothing terribly wrong with the stealings, lies and deceipts in our association. Mr. Towah and Mr. Solo clearly represent some of us who do not frequent this forum. Our organization is currently on a down ward slope. There are many Grand Gedeans like me who had become completely discourage about the kind of shameless criminal activities that have engulfed our Association. Mr Gwyan, you were once accused of stealing from a dead man( late oldman John P.Berr)by using funds collected to help the bereaved family. I think you lack the honesty to inform this forum about critical issues affecting our association.

18. 10-08-2008 21:11

inquisitor

Zakpa, God bless your heart. Again, I am breaking my own vow not to post on this issue anymore. Any sense of shame is missing in the Grand Gedeh Association. We all are guilty of exhibting bad behaviors at one time or another. But the courage to admit to mistakes is what give us moral authority. The Grand Gedeh association budgets monies for education and training every year. Some times money is disbursed for "Scholarships" for students in Liberia. Last year in June, an amount of $3200 ( I have a recipt) was disbursed after a new administration was elected. The new government leaders were not notified. No one knows the accountability process if there was any. 
So assuming that monies were disbursed for almost 9 years, the amount stated was possibly accurate. So, Zarkpa is another Grand Gedean who is embarassed about the outright and daylight thievery going on in the association dead body money and all. Clearly, no sense of shame there. 
 
Joseph Solo

19. 10-08-2008 22:16

contribution to ggaa

I ve'made contributions to the GGAA. I was the first editor-in-chief of GeDeh Drug, a pride of Grand Gedeans. More especially, when Fred Gwyan ran as vice president, I supervised the election and we raised almost three thousand dollars. Practising what I preach, I worked with the other commissioners to deposit that money in the chapter account. Can anyone show how that money was spent? Has the PA chapter ever submitted any financial reports complete with bank statements? In Fred's world view, what is important is to hold these various positions and steal whenever an opportunity presents it self.Yes, alway taken from an impoverished community. Fred was chapter president for 4 years. What can he point to as his accomplishment? The way he became president says a lot about how criminally inclined he is. And he seems to believe that a "leader" who organizes a fund raiser should pocket half of that money and undertake his personal project whether buying a hall that he rents to the association, or running political campaigns. Sometimes, I agonize that I have to discuss Grand Gedeh issue on this and other forums with Fred. But sometimes, it burns my heart to see a chracter who has no sense of shame a walking deceit and a cheap rogue 
I will rest my case for now. 
 
Joseph Solo

20. 11-08-2008 10:49

Lack of Critical Thinking

Mr. Solo, 
Your incessant comments cautioning me to desist from commenting on issues that you contend I do not know about, I am afraid, are devoid of any sense of reason. It also shows a severe deficiency in your grasp of critical thinking and argumentation. It is not a virtue to put such weakness of yours on public display 
 
You see Mr. Solo, I do not have to be a Grand Gedehean to critique issues of Grand Gedeh once the fundamental facts have been laid out as arguments by various debaters. I can apply my astute critical thinking ability to derive my own inferences and conclusions from their arguments. For instance, you argued with the very flawed analogy that a certain accused chief in Grand Gedeh accepted the mantle of proving himself innocent when he was burdened with the roundabout precept of “guilty until proven innocent.” So you concluded, using the precedent of this chief, that the accused members of GGAA should prove themselves innocent. 
 
On its face, this is very irrational inductive reasoning on your part, Mr. Solo. Because one individual was burdened with such irrationality in Grand Gedeh does not make it law. It is a long-standing precept of civilize jurisprudence, which includes that generally practiced in Grand Gedeh, that a person is deemed “innocent until proven guilty.” I don't have to be a Grand Gedehean to argue that your trying to turn this inviolable precept on its head out of expedience amounts to very poor and insidious reasoning on your part. 
 
Furthermore, You and the author have accused members of the GGAA in a very public way of embezzling money from the organization while you ignore the civilize method of letting the law take its course. Your accusations will forever stigmatize these individuals Should we the participants on this forum simply accept yours and the author's dictate as gospel that these individuals are criminals and not offer our dissenting views? Critical thinking tells me that the civilize world has laid out a procedure for judging whether a person is a criminal or not and that method does not include you and Mr. Towah willfully publishing such defamatory comments on the Internet without proof. Can we not also infer that your charges amount to sour grapes because you have been booted out of that organization due to your anti-social behaviors in view of the incoherent evidence that accompanies your very grave charges? 
 
In short, Mr. Solo, you are exhibiting a severe lack of critical thinking, which should be a minimal prerequisite for anyone desiring to critique public issues. It may be okay for you to show such deficiency in your thinking in your home as that is your area of complete jurisdiction, even though such is inadvisable. But please do not make these silly and rude assertions of telling others to shut up and not to comment freely on this forum as it portrays you as someone who is very unserious and is predisposed to making nonsensical remarks. 
 
Lastly, Mr. Gwyan has provided some very cogent arguments which cast your charges in a very dubious light. It may behoove to refute these arguments and not dodge them as such simply adds to the conclusion that you cannot be taken seriously. Please read and refute his post #14.

21. 11-08-2008 13:46

Not about intellectualism

Mr. Wilson, first of, there goes your credibility: identifying with Fred Gwyan. But your problem is bigger. But what you don't seem to understand is that everything is not about intellectualism or being a critical thinker. What we are talking about is about stealing what does not belong to you. I have carbon copy of a check Gwyan wrote to cover GgAA contribution to Hon. Beh funeral This is what we are talking about. also, individuals listed as receiving educational assistance from the GGAA attempted to physically handle Mr. Davis, the GGAA reprensentative in liberia because they feel lied upon. How much evidence do we need? But you and Fred Gwyan, belong together. He steals and you try to jusify him because in your utopia view of the world, everything goes and justify later. A very educated fool. 
 
joseph Solo

22. 11-08-2008 16:13

Names calling won't deter me.

Zakpa, 
Who are you? Are you a member of any chapter in GGAA, if so which chapter? What is your overall contribution to this body, have you attended any convention where we raised most our incomes? Have you made any meaningful contribution towards the well being of our people? 
It is always nice to sit on the side line and falsely accused people who have sacrificed their times and energies to work tirelessly for the well being of our people of stealing the organization’s money, when infact the money in question was raised without you contributing anything.  
What we should understand is that these organizations are supported solely from members pockets, so it is some times frustrating to see a good number of you sitting out there refusing to help when it is time to help, but only show your faces when it is time to slanders other people names. We understand as public servants it is incumbent upon us to be open to criticism but only when it is done in a civilized manner and when who ever is making those claims can provide hard evidence to substantiate their claims.  
 
As for the allegations that are coming from Solo and Towah, those can be dealt with if the proper channels are followed, like the steps that Mr. Towah is taking by filing charges against Mr. Davis in Monrovia similar step should be taken here in the U.S. I shall offer no explanation to anyone on this forum because there are two disgruntled individuals who were chased out of the association because they refused exhibit decent behaviors and are agonizing about it by resulting to continuous character assassinations. What I tried to do is offer some of you especially the outsiders the way our organization is run and some of the mechanism that we have in placed to help protect our finances. In my last posting I think I alluded to some of that. What I said then and I want reiterate here is that, it is not possible for anyone in this organization to have embezzled $31,000.00 when infact the organization itself did not worth that amount and even if it did we wouldn’t have budgeted all our incomes towards a single project. This fact still stand, I am waiting for anyone to correct me if I am fabricating anything. 
 
In Solo’s last posting he said that for nine years the organization had been budgeting the amount of $3,200 towards the scholarship program all because he saw a report that stated that in the last quarter of the outgoing administration, the President, Mr. Gbortoe paid that amount for the program. To counter his baseless claims I am saying that because, that amount was in that quarter’s report, doesn’t mean that similar amount was paid in previous quarter. Also I can state here that the scholarship program did not start 9 years ago, the program started when Mr. Nyanue came and revitalized the whole association, producing an amended constitution, introducing administrative policies, and setting up an actually working board of directors and a host of other initiatives to make our organization more viable. Mr. Nyanue’s reign started in 2002 meaning that the program started in 2002 I can say that because I was a member of the first committee. When we started, we started with 2 students with the intention of increasing it by 2 every year since we dealing with 2 disciplines, nursing and teaching.  
 
These are the clear areas of disagreement that I expect the accusers to address instead of calling names or been disrespectful to others. Calling me a criminal will not deter me from protecting the integrity of our institution as a true patriot, what I am doing to protect my name is no secret to Solo, as we discussed there is legal case that have against Solo in the court of common pleas in Delaware county, PA, and I expect the likes of Zakpa and B. Goah to come to be his witnesses in court to provide evidence that I stole the death benefits from the late Beh’s family and also that Iam 
a masquerading criminal.  
 
Lastly, to K.K Wilson don’t mind the names calling from Solo, that is a behavior he has exhibited when he briefly served as secretary of our association, it is the same behavior that caused his impeachment by our board, leading him to resigned and further isolating himself. 
It is ironic that they will bring GGAA’s issues to this forum and then whined that outsiders should not comment on the issues because they are foreign to the topic under discussion. Simply put, if you want these issues to be the sole prerogative of Grand Gedeans then post them on the Gedeh site. This is a public forum designed for anyone to post articles that are open to the general public. I think what people like the Solos and the Towahs are looking for, are people who are in sympathy with their one sided views, so they cringe when they see guys like the K. K. Wilsons and the Geplay who are objective responding to their post. Mr. Wilson please keep up with the good work, this not about me or anyone else, I think most of your arguments are raised with true objectivity and this is what we need from everyone on this forum not people who make rampant generalizations and expect people to follow suit.

23. 11-08-2008 17:00

Not About Intellectualism

Joseph Solo, what Mr. Wilson is talking about is my arguement that it is not possible for anyone to have embezzled $31,000.00 from an organization that didn't worth that amount at the time of the alleged embezzlement.  
Just tell the man what the possibilities are and stop been evasive. 
 
As for you calling me a criminal you know where we are going, so I am not even going to dignified your utterance on that issue. The day you meet me in court you can provide all your copies of whatever you have to substantiate your claims. What I have made my duty on this forum is to try and provide another view of our organization so those who have objective minds can decipher things for themselves. I promised you if you are trying to draw me into your direspectfulness I won't scoop to that level. 
 
Fred T. Gwyan 
Former President PA's chapter GGAA 
Chairman GGAA's convention 2009 
Former Board Member Liberian Association of PA. 
Former Vice Presidential candidate LAP 
Consultant, Liberian United Women In Progress (LUWIP) 
Former chairman Council of community leaders, PA. 
This is just an insight of my activities in both you and myself community. For my professional life that feed my family and myself you know what that is. Just something for you to think about while your abuse.

24. 12-08-2008 09:57

legal option

Fred Gwyan, 
You know legal options are available. I already contacted the Pennsylvania Attorney General office. They told me that these matters are criminal and not civil and therefore we should contact the district attorney's office. So that option is available. But some of us are sympathetic people. We are only discussing these issues just to raise the awareness. After all, we will all go to Grand Gedeh some day.Fred Gwyan, I will put it to you straight: You of all people can not afford to go to court on criminal charges. You know it, I know it and people close to you know it. They are trying to intervene but I tell them that I don't just get up and write about Fred Gwyan. He is not in my league. But because he is the poster boy for corruption in the association, he will attack me when I talk about corruption. I told some people that if Fred has any kind of shame, he would not be arguing with people about the Grand Gedeh Association. To me and to other Grand Gedeans, Fred Gwyan represents everything that is wrong with the association. I think I am clear and I rest my case. No more comment on this issue. 
Ps. about the great Mr. Wilson, the issue is not because he is not a Grand Gedean. The issue is he is not close to the facts of the cases we are talking about. This is not about big book talk, to speak the Liberian colloquial. 
 
Joseph Solo

25. 12-08-2008 11:08

A Time To Cool Off

TO: 
Joseph Solo, 
Fred Gwyan and all my fellow citizens of Grand Gedah. 
 
The Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes chapter three says: "There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven". 
 
That passage is loud and clear. I urge all of you to "cool off" because that's the right way to go. 
You've had the time to disagree and now is the time to "cool off". 
 
I do not know the full details of this disagreement. I know that there are threats of lawsuits. It doesn't have to go that far. It can be settled. If all of you could come to terms with the Biblical Passage mentioned above, I believe you will be proud of yourselves and all of us will be happy. 
 
Joe Solo, I know it's very hard to cool of when you're hot. But, it's not impossible to cool off.  
 
Gwyan, like Joe, you can cool off too. It is not impossible to listen to a "calm" voice that says "you can". Gwyan, you can! 
 
There is a time for everything. There is a time to disagree and a time to move on. 
 
I sincerely hope and pray that all of you (not just the two of you, but your supporters) will realize you can do more for your country and yourselves if you re-think this whole issue.  
 
It's possible. It's doable. 
 
Have a great day! The next time the two of you come back on the Forum, I want you to let (not necessarily me) but the good readers of the Forum know that you've decided to "cool off". 
 
I do not know how old both of you are. But allow me to say that I'm acting as a "big brother" to bring about this mediation. Be Blessed! 
 
Yes, you can! 
 
Have a good day!

26. 12-08-2008 11:29

Self-Contradictions of Mr. Solo

Mr. Solo, 
You seem to be a man full of self-contradictions. On the want hand, you laud your colleagues in Liberia for inciting the youths of Grand Gedeh to indulge in vigilantism and beat up Mr. Davis without allowing him his right to justice, but then you also claim to have had some twinge of conscience that led you to prevent those youths from beating up Mr. Davis. What you need to do in accordance with the rule of law is to take your evidence to court and not incite the youths of Grand Gedeh to engage in such lawlessness. Yes, they may not have beaten up Mr. Davis but the damage is done when you, a person whom I suppose the youths look up to, incite them to consider such a violent action instead of conforming to the rule of law. Would you extol your own child if he were to behave in such manner in America? I am sure that your answer is a categorical no because you don't want him to end up in prison. Yet, you are touting, instead of denouncing, such a reprehensible act by the children of Grand Gedeh. Don't you think they deserve the same civilize nature as your own children? 
 
To further your theme of self-contradictions, you and Towah have maliciously and publicly scandalized the names of the leaders of GGAA without an iota of substance to back up your claims except the supposed evidence you claim to have in your valise that no one can see. But when your feet are held to the fire because you are being very incoherent, you claim that this matter is “not about intellectualism.” How are we to discern what you are telling us when we don't intellectualize (analyze rationally) what you have written? What are our alternatives for gaining insights into what you are selling on this forum unless we intellectualize it? Do you expect the readers of this forum to just join your cause if it does not compute and crucify the leaders of the GGAA as you have spurred the youth of Grand Gedeh to do? Sorry, Mr. Solo, but it is customary that we apply our intelligence to understanding these matters and not accept them on some nonsensical basis. 
 
More on your theme of self-contradictions, you call yourself a “sympathetic man” who is just trying to raise awareness of this issue. You sympathetic? Whom are you kidding? You are willfully and publicly destroying the reputations of your fellow Grand Gedeans by stigmatizing them as criminals without any substantial reason to buttress your claims. This is behavior more associated with being vile then being sympathetic, Mr. Solo. There is a difference. Taking your case to court would be a sign of legitimate concern. Galvanizing your fellow Grand Gedeans and putting your case before them in the proper setting would be considered raising awareness. But taking matters into your hands and egregiously printing these people's names on a public forum is a blatant display of grudge and cynicism. This is neither sympathetic nor raising awareness. Again, there is a difference. 
 
I am glad that you have decided to drop this issue for now as you claim because the more you opine on it, the more you do not make sense.

27. 12-08-2