President George Weah of Liberia needs to take it easy. Stop for a little moment. Think of why the economy isn’t booming and why the state of things are becoming more troubling. This should be his worry. To fix, ensure that he has the right people around him and not let the rampant corruption continue. Which is the reason for the opposition to pin things on him.
Like Weah should handle this situation, unless his in on it and getting kick-backs too. That would explain why he isn’t doing anything about this: “One of such persons who is revered for the design, operation and protection of such fraudulent scheme in the Liberia Revenue Authority especially of late, is Saa Saamoi, the Customs Commissioner. Mr. Saamoi and others at the LRA have for long used the “duty free” privilege administered by the customs section under the Department of customs to take money from importers in the name of bringing charity goods to the country. One classic scheme in which Mr Saamoi and others have clearly defrauded the system of thousands of dollars was when- Sabaru Enterprise located in Redlight, Paynesville, obtained permit from the Ministry of Commerce and BIVAC to import 15 containers (7,500 bags) of flour into Liberia” (Aaron T. Massaquoi – ‘Liberia: Unveiling Saa Saamoi the “Ghost” in LRA Swallowing Gov’t Revenue under the Cloud of Darkness As Thousands of Civil Servants Go Unpaid for Months’ 06.10.2019).
That is if Weah cares about the tax-base, the money generating activities that can build a sustainable nation. Unless, his more preoccupied with feeding himself and his cronies. What he might be proactively doing. Since, the freshest news isn’t good governance or care for the state. No, its silencing critics.
On Thursday, the Roots FM got closed by the state for its controversial radio show The Costa Show, which is known for critiquing the President. That has clearly hit some feelings and hurt the pride of the President. This is why the President sent the police and ex-rebel “General Power” closed the radio. Ceased broadcasting equipment and other things in the raid of the radio. Surely, this was all done as a sign of what the state will do its critics. But everyone cannot afford to trade their services “duty free”.
Weah shouldn’t think his so wise, that he can get rid of the people behind the Costa Show or anything else. Not like the President has answered the Council of Patriots calls earlier, but not that its has the ability to stay relevant for long either. Maybe, that was Weah’s gamble on that one.
However, Weah shouldn’t silence his critics, he should answer them with actions and speeches. He should answer them with the same coin. Even if they are steady bashing him 24/7. His in office serving the ones that praise him and the ones that loathes him. That comes with the office he serves.
In addition, its only weakness seeing the Roots FM and The Costa Show being silenced. When, the state state is too easy to question. When there is enough cronies and questionable acts done. Than, the critics can just blindly follow the money and the lack of it. They can just pin-point the lacking institutional procedure, the lack of protocol and the sudden ghosts. If that is too easy. Than, the the Weah administration should look into that. Not go after the messenger.
Weah went for the ones spreading the word to the grapevine. Not the ones who did the deed or even shared the spoils. No, he send his enforcers to the ones broadcasting the acts of his government. This is a sign, that the office he has is to big for him. Since, he cannot muster or have the credibility to carry its weight. That he got to use the power, the influence and the officers of the state to cease a radio station.
That is the Weah of 2019. Weah of 2019 needs to chill or if not, he needs to fix what his government is missing. Because, clearly by his actions. There is a lot and its not the Roots FM fault. It is all of his own. Peace.
MinBane 