Tag: Save the State Movement

Liberia: Embassy of the United States of America, Monrovia – Questions and Priorities – A Press Statement by U.S. Ambassador to Liberia Michael A. McCarthy (24.04.2023)

Liberia: Movement for Accountability, Transparency & Equality in Margibi County (MATCM) – Press Statement (17.06.2021)

Opinion: Weah should be happy with the talk of “Christopolis”

In Monrovia, the city named after the 5th United States President James Monroe. Who was an slave-owner. This name has gotten under pressure and been put into question as the Black Lives Matters movement have touched upon this in Liberia.

I am sure President George Weah is happy about that. That the public are stirring and questioning the name of the capital. That people are busy looking into the history of the name of the City. If it should be renamed or return the name of Christopolis. The name it had until 1824, as the American Colonization Society (ACS) gave the city the name of Monrovia, which we know it as today.

So, in year 2020 after Christ we are busy thinking about the name of the capital. While the government are stealing pensions, stealing salaries and loosing funds like drunk sea-men. The government are busy wasting public funds, instead of paying civil servants and public officials. They are eating of the plate of the general public and the concern is on a name of a place.

If Monrovia changes to Christopolis. It will still be a town of money-hungry politicians. It will still be filled a corrupt President. Who used to score goals for AC Milan, but is preoccupied filling up new envelopes. Missing millions, missing cargo and all the sort of ordinary scheming play to earn fortunes on the public. These games are known and they are rampant now.

Weah likes this and would hope it continues like this. There can be new demonstrations and the condemnations from the Council of Patriots. They can all continue to hamper on this, instead of focusing on the dire corruption and thieving in office.

I am sure George Weah is super happy that the name is getting traction. That people are talking about the long forgotten and dead President Monroe. That the name of Monrovia is becoming questionable. It gives him space to continue with his incompetent and inept leadership of the Republic.

He can continue to loose containers, millions and not being able to pay out salaries. Everyone is busy with the name.

Monrovia or Christopolis. No matter what name the city have, the current leadership is corrupt and stealing with a fast pace. It is just a matter of scheme and technique. That is it really.

Weah wants a hatrick and wants to win. He continues to do so. A name won’t change a thing. His already in office and his eating. Peace.

Opinion: Weah’s Corruption pledge is gone missing like a shipping container

President George Weah has only have had two years in office. Still, by that little time he has had some huge scandals. Lost containers and lost funds, which was supposed to get into circulation. Newly minted and pressed currency, which just happens to disappear. So, its not like the lack of belief is there. Well, it’s because of the way he has played this game. The way he has tried to circumvent the rules and not getting a card.

President Weah haven’t delivered, when billions have gone missing, when hundreds of millions of Liberian Dollars get lost from the port in Monrovia, as the authorities are supposed to take the millions into circulation in 2018. The same can be said about the unaccounted funds and incentives in 2019. Therefore, him pledging a battle against it now. Seems a bit like lingo to catch the crowds, but not his actions on the pitch.

Outtake from the State of the Union 2020:

“My Administration will continue to intensify the fight against corruption, which remains prevalent in our society and continues to negatively impact growth and development. Many believe this to be an unchangeable way of life here in Liberia. I think otherwise. I believe that we will succeed in our fight against corruption and will bring to justice relevant individuals and corporations who have and continue to defraud Liberia. To this end, we have hired the expertise of a world-renowned Asset Recovery firm to assist our local team to carry out a professional excercise to recover Liberia’s wealth stolen over many decades. Additionally, we will continue to show political will in the fight against waste and abuse of our national resources, as we have shown in recent times when a managing director and other high profile officials were dismissed, arrested and sent to court to vindicate themselves from accusations of corruption. There will be no sacred cows as we take stronger measures to end this societal menace” (George Weah – State of the Union, 27.01.2020).

I have a hard time seeing it, as the scandals are huge, they are the status of Grand Corruption. Not the belittling of folks trespassing and feeding a hungry police officer. No, this is the shipment of currency from abroad. Surely, the same can happen in any ministry and department too. When the first of the gate, before even getting circulation, the Liberian Dollars are tainted with corrupt behaviour. That is how dire the cause is. The money cannot even move from the Central Bank to the public before touched and out of bound. That is how serious the issues are.

Weah can scream and shout like a pissed off manager. He can act a fool, but the realities is that his battling himself and his authorities. Because, currency moved to the port and within the bounds of the Port Authorities and still gone missing. Show, that there are enough stakeholders combined with the inner circle of bankers, ministry of finance and possibly the office of the President who knows about this movement. So, they know these shipments get lost.

It wasn’t an direct theft of a vault, robbing a bank, no, it was well-planned inside trade and bazaar of the cash coming in. They didn’t even need to rob the bank or violently overtake a cash-transport. They just took the first landing and started eating right there. It is a robbery, but a sophisticated one, as they all know when it comes and who signs off on the shipment. While no one get to answer for the misgivings and sudden “loss” of a fortune. Which was a asset of the state, until it get into circulation.

Weah knows this, but acts like he doesn’t, its insincere. Like were all are dumb and not catching the whiff of smoke. When there is smoke, it is fire and in this instance it’s a steal. We can act like its not, but that wouldn’t be sincere. So, in that regard, Mr. Weah. Please get your act right. We are crying foul, you deserve a card, a red one, but do the right thing and stop the thieving. Really stop it; the words are meaningless as long as money keep disappearing. Peace.

Liberia: President Weah – Presidential Directive – Subject: Adherence to the Relevant Provisions of the Code of Conduct (22.01.2020)

Opinion: Weah’s own goal

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.

Liberia: National Housing Authority – Subject: In-House Salary Payment (05.09.2019)

Opinion: President Weah is drunk on power

Well, this didn’t take to long before he became like so many others. Hooked on the powerful drug: POWER. President George Weah and his CDC is prevalent in disregard of the people. Not only as Election Violence hit the opposition in the recent by-election. But the growing dissent against his mismanaged rule and grabbing of extended power.

That Weah is trying to make himself larger than life. While his ensuring his cronies, his family and everyone else in eating. The added corruption scandals. The planned constitutional amendments, to ensure that there is more unison agreement and that its following the mind of him.

Weah is really trying every avenue. His ensuring that the elections violence is happening, but later condemning it. Therefore, sounding reasonable, while at the same time using the forces he commands.

During the previous weekend, Weah said at a retreat: “We have realized that the laws of our country, including the Constitution have been overtaken by time and circumstances, consequently, I have decided that it is now time to undertake a review of the Constitution”.

With saying that, he has a plan in mind, to secure the CDC and himself. That he has the guidelines and fixed constitution, so that he continue. If not, secure himself more loyalist and less opposition. Less hassle with the Council of Patriots and whoever pushes the agenda in another direction. It is supposed to be streamlined around him and nothing else.

Weah is really showing who he is, a man drunk on power. A man without a doubt, has the will and capacity to overrun the public, silence demonstrations and do whatever it takes to be on the top. There is nothing he will not do. That is proven by the By-Election right now, as there is no initial talks of helping the hurt opposition candidate, but instead asking all political active to restrain themselves. Even if the attacks wasn’t on the CDC, but the opposition.

Surely, that says something. We can expect more deaths, more arbitrary arrests and more prominent activists and dissidents to get into trouble. As the Presidency and the CDC is busy following the command of Weah.

Weah accepts this and enjoys it. He gets all the perks, while everyone is supposed to blindly following him. He has the golden ticket and the power to do so. The rest are just his mere puppets and his toys to play with.

Weah went from being a hero on the football field, unto becoming a zero in office. He could have chosen another path, but instead he wanted to be ruthless, cruel and inhumane. Use the force, the ability of the authorities and the capacity to strike fear. Instead of being respected, noble and show mercy, which he doesn’t, because apparently that is not him. Peace.

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