New members of Liberian Government must be corruption

TLC Africa.COM

Commentary

The warring factions have waged war on the people of Liberia since December 1989.

The Civil Wars fought between 1989 and 2003 were not wars of liberation, but displays of human brutality, greed and violence.

The men, women children and nation of Liberia have been victimized by many of the people who are now appointed as the new leaders of the Nation. Many are the leaders, organizers, financiers and members of the various warring factions, responsible for the deaths, destruction and decline Liberia and it's people have experienced in the last 23 years.

Although some of the appointees and organizations (under old names) had the opportunity to participate in the first national transitional government, and the government of Charles Taylor, many for one reason or the other, gave up the option of working with the system and making the system work for Liberia, and returned to organizing, supporting, planning and participating in corruption and war under the banner of ridding Liberia of Charles Taylor.

In this transitional government, many of our appointed leaders have another opportunity to work with the system and make the international system work for Liberia. If they are sincere in their efforts to be our leaders, they will labor for the restoration of the basic services required by the people they governed, including:

Justice
Electricity
Running water
Sewage
Education
Transportation
Medical Services
Infrastructural Development
Security and
Every other service required to support stability, growth, development and trade.

With depleted resources, huge foreign debts, high unemployment, a malnutrition, psychological, emotionally and physically injured workforce, with little or no education and a suspicious international community, with a "wait and see attitude" in terms of giving funds for rebuilding, the challenges ahead are astronomical. Without a well developed blueprint and with inexperience the tasks become even more difficult. Without a shared vision and lack of cooperation amongst the various leaders and government bodies, the task becomes almost impossible.

In 1996, the Peace Agreement allowed the politicians and warring factions to participate in the 3rd Republic. Many claimed they were ineffective because Charles Taylor made them ineffective. Charles Taylor is no longer a player, the new chairman was handpicked by the politicians and warring factions, who also placed themselves in key positions throughout the government. The success or failure of the start of the 4th Republic will be determined by their vision or lack of it.

LURD and MODEL wanted Charles Taylor out of Liberia, Charles Taylor is gone. They along with members of Charles Taylor NPP party, are the new chiefs in town. They now control the flow of funds in and out of the country, they control the foreign service and the financial revenues of the country. They control the Army and the borders. Only they can direct the path Liberia follow to elections in 2005.

Like Charles Taylor was watched after his bid for power was honored in 1997, they too will be scrutinized by Liberians inside and outside the country and by the International community.

Regardless of their experience or lack of it, If they are genuine they will work together as a team with the common goals of restoration and nation building.

If they are wise, they will develop a plan of action and acquire the people with the necessary skill set to help them accomplished the astronomical task of rebuilding war torn and damaged Liberia.

If they are committed, they will identify members of the international community willing to cooperate with them on joint projects that will benefit both nations, and lobby for projects inside Liberia, that will directly benefit the people of Liberia and assist in the development of the nation.

They and only they, can set the stage for the new Liberia, we can only hope that they are up to the enormous task of uniting and leading the nation and people of Liberia out of war, death and destruction.

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New Members of Liberian Government must be corruption-free, UN emphasizes

19 October – With Liberia currently in the process of selecting members of its transitional government and legislative assembly, the United Nations today underscored the need to choose honest and qualified professionals.

Those appointed or elected to the new government must be "individuals of high moral character and integrity, with untainted past records," the UN Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) said in a statement released in Monrovia.

At the current critical juncture, "every effort should be made to ensure that all members of the new government are appointed or elected based upon their professional abilities, and are those who will place the interests of the people of Liberia ahead of any personal interests," UNMIL stressed.

The statement also pointed out that the UN Security Council as well as international donors are closely following developments in Liberia with a view to reinforcing support for its peace and reconstruction efforts. "Any setbacks at this early stage could adversely affect international commitment and future support," the Mission warned.

The National Transitional Government of Liberia Appointees

Below is an alphabetically listing of those appointed and selected to be the leaders in the National Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL).


Gyude Bryant - Businessman and Liberia's Chairman and interim leader	Harry A. Greaves, Advisor to the Chairman on Economic Affairs.	Thomas Yaya Nimely - Liberia's Foreign Minister-Designate's	Roland Duo, Assistant Minister for Coast Guard Affairs, Ministry of National Defense

Onu Adighibi - Assistant Minister for Commerce, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Bill Aston - Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Transport.

J. Allison Barco - Director-General, Liberia Broadcasting System; Barco served as Deputy Director General for Administration at the Liberia Broadcasting System under the last administration.

Ambassador Fred Bass-Golokeh - Advisor to the Chairman on International Affairs. According to the Perspective Website, Mr. Golekeh's knowledge about international affairs is extremely limited, and he has been accused of the corrupt practice of selling Liberian passports when he was in service with the Foreign Ministry of Liberia in the 1990s.

Professor Willie Belleh - Chief of Staff and Director of the Cabinet; Liberian academic & politician. Secretary General of the Liberian Action Party, former Dean of the College of Business and Public Administration, University of Liberia and also a member of the Board of Directors of the Central Bank of Liberia chair the Committee.

Charles Bennie, as Commissioner of Customs & Excise, Ministry of Finance. Bennie is a spokesman, political adviser and one of LURD representative at the Liberian peace talks in Accra.

Gyude Bryant -Liberia's New Transitional Leader a 54-year-old businessman from Monrovia and the chairman of the Liberian Action Party. Bryant was selected by both Liberian government officials and rebels to lead the two-year transitional government, that took over the Liberian leadership in October 2003. He is seen by all as a consensus builder.

Education - Economics degree from Cuttington University in Suacoco, Bong County, Liberia.

Experience - Served in the 1970's as head of the national port authority's planning and development department. President of a mining and port equipment company, and chairman of Liberian Action Party (LAP). Led a 1997 effort to unite political parties behind a civilian candidate in Liberia's first elections after the 1989-1996 civil war

Daniel L. Chea - Minister of National Defense - Chea was Defense Minister under Charles Taylor NPP administration. More than 150 Liberian government soldiers staged a protest demonstration against the re-appointment of Daniel Chea as Defense Minister in the new broad-based transitional government, claiming he owed them more than two years of pay arrears. They complained that Chea had failed to pay most government soldiers, giving priority to an elite force, the Anti-Terrorist Unit (ATU) at the expense of the regular army. (NPP) DOB: 25 MAY 1958,

Albert Chie - Assistant Minister for Exploration & Research, Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy.

Dr. Peter S. Coleman - Minister of Health & Social Welfare.

A. Vamuyan Corneh - Assistant Minister for Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

Emmanuel Crawford - Deputy Minister for Revenue, Ministry of Finance.

George Dweh - Speaker of the National Transitional Legislative Assembly. A founding member of the former rebel Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (Lurd). An executive of Roosevelt Johnson's former militia, Mr. Dweh's has been accused of being linked to atrocities committed during Liberia's 14-year conflict and is known as one of the late General Samuel Doe's alleged death squad members. Mr. Dweh fought for ULIMO during a savage seven-year civil war in the 1990s in which 200,000 people died.

He was a prominent member of LURD negotiating team in the Accra peace conference which led to the signing of a peace agreement on 18 August. He is also a first cousin of former president Samuel Doe, who was captured and murdered by rebels in 1990.

Chayee Doe

Cheyee Doe (deceased)- was Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA). Brother of the Late Samuel Doe and Leader of MODEL. Chayee Doe, 37, died on Wednesday, June 9th, 2004, after brain surgery in the state of Delaware, USA. Doe was flown to the United States after collapsing in the Liberian capital Monrovia a week earlier and never regained consciousness. Chayee Doe, died two days after being named the new leader of the country's main rebel group, Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD).

Jackson E. Doe, as Minister of State for Presidential Affairs. Cousin to the Late President Samuel Doe and an executive member of the warring rebel group LURD.

Roland Duo, Assistant Minister for Coast Guard Affairs, Ministry of National Defense.

Sekou A. Fahnbulleh, Assistant Minister for Planning & Research, Ministry of Posts & Telecommunication.

Edward Farley - Director of GSA.

Joseph Z. Freeman, Assistant Minister for Statistics, Ministry of Planning & Economic Affairs.

Joe Gballah - Managing Director, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation

Jessie Gbeyanue, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Public Works.

Saa R. Gbollie, Assistant Minister for Rehabilitation, Ministry of Justice.

Ambrose Gbormie, Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Gbormie was spokesman for the National Patriotic Front (NPF).

Lawrence George, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of State.

Thomas M. Goba, - Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Agriculture.

Theophilus C. Gould, Deputy Minister/Solicitor-General, Ministry of Justice

Harry A. Greaves, Advisor to the Chairman on Economic Affairs. According to the Perspective Website, Harry A. Greaves contributed $10,000 to Charles Taylor during the Liberian Civil War.

Christian G. Herbert - Minister of Planning & Economic Affairs.

Nathan Horace, Assistant Minister, Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Kolubahzizi Howard, Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Liberia Telecommunications Corporation, a position he held in the last administration.

George Howe, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Labor.

Cllr. Kabineh Janneh as Minister of Justice. Janneh was the leader of LURD's delegation at the peace talks in Accra.

George Taweh Kiadii, Deputy Director-General for Broadcasting, Liberia Broadcasting System (LBS). Kiadii was once Ambassador at Large and Special Envoy for Liberia to the U.S

Lusine Kamara as Finance Minister.

Mustafa Kamara - Deputy Minister of Commerce.

Rt. General Philip B. Karmah, Advisor to the Chairman on Military Affairs. Philip Karmah was Minister of Nat'l Security and former commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Karmah once fought against Charles Taylor's NPFL.

Sekou Kanneh, Assistant Minister for Administration, Ministry of Commerce.

Varmah Kanneh as Transport Minister, Kanneh was former Council of State.

David Kolleh, Assistant Minister for Debt Management & Expenditure.

Moses Kpawee, Deputy Minister for Technical Services, Ministry of Public Works.

Ansumana Kwesiah - Deputy Minister of Public Works.

Sia Luseni - Private Secretary to the Chairman.

Abel M. Massalay - Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs.

Nyah Manten - Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Commerce & Industry.

Joseph Mayah - Managing Director, Liberia Electricity Corporation; a position he held in the last administration.

Jacob Mendscole - Security Consultant to the Chairman.

H. Dan Morias - Minister of Internal Affairs, Morias was former Superintendent of Maryland County. Mr. Gennady Pavlovich Medvedve a Russian national and owner of the famous sailing vessel "M.V. Zolotitsa" accused Superintendent Morias of being in possession of his stolen vessel. The superintendent claimed to have bought the vessel. The vessel was in the government’s custody at the Freeport of Monrovia when it was stolen and taken to the port of Harper, Maryland County, where the vessel reportedly sunk.

Alex Mulbah, Assistant Minister for Extension Services, Ministry of Agriculture.

George Mulbah, Assistant Minister for Trade Union Affairs, Ministry of Labor.

Eugene Lenn Nagbe - Minister of Posts and Telecommunication (NPP). Eugene Nagbe, served as vice president’s Blah Chief of Office Staff during the Taylor administration.

Ellen Natt, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Ministry of State. Former Grand Bassa County Superintendent.

Blamoh Nelson, Senior Advisor to the Chairman on the Scrupulous implementation of the Peace Accord. Nelson was President Taylor's Director-General of the Cabinet.

Thomas Yaya Nimely as Liberia's Foreign Minister-Designate. Nimely is chairman of the second rebel group in the Liberian conflict, the Movement For Democracy in Liberia (MODEL). Nimely was born in Pleebo in Maryland County of Liberia on November 5, 1956. Nimely has American Citizenship.

Jimmy Nyawapulu, Assistant Minister for Social Services, Ministry of Health & Social Welfare.

Isaac Nyenabo - Vice Governor, Central Bank of Liberia.

Francis Paye, Deputy Managing Director for Administration, Liberia Produce Marketing Corporation.

Zoe Pennoey - Deputy Managing Director, Liberia Petroleum Refinery Corporation (LPRC).

Roosevelt Quiah - Chairman, National Investment Commission (NIC).

Soko V. Sackor - Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs.

Isaiah Tee Saley - Managing Director, LPMC.

Aliyu Sheriff, as chief of staff of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL). Sheriff is military chief of staff of the Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy (LURD) rebel movement.

Geevon Smith, Deputy Minister for Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport. Wellington Geevon Smith is an exiled Liberian journalist and media consultant at the Media Foundation for West Africa

Edwin M. Snowe, Managing Director, Liberia Petroleum Refining Corporation (LPRC);. Snowe is the President of Liberia Football Association.

Cllr. Lavalla Supuwood as Labour Minister. Supuwood was former justice minister.

Eddington Varmah, as Deputy Speaker of the NTLA. Varmah was former Minister of Justice under Charles Taylor

Mulbah Willie, Deputy Minister for Operations, Ministry of Lands, Mines & Energy; Willie was deputy Minister of Lands and Mines and was suspended by the Taylor administration for being involved in the smuggling of Diamonds.

Roger Woodson, Managing Director, Liberia Water & Sewer Corporation.

Joe Wylie, Deputy Minister for Administration, Ministry of Defense; Wylie is the military advisor of LURD.

Isaac Yonly, Assistant Minister for Special Services. Isaac Yonly is a member of the Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas (ULAA) and was the spokesman for All Liberian Coalition Parties at the peace talks in AKOSOMBO, Ghana.

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