Written by Abraham Hoff
Chief Community Organizer of LEAD Liberia
LEAD Liberia is not talking about the budget deficit. We are not talking about the trade deficit. We are talking about the moral deficit that exists in the Liberian’s society. We are talking about the unity deficit that is destroying the very fabrics of the Liberian’s State. We are talking about the empathy deficit in the government that is exploiting our natural resources thereby leaving ordinary Liberians with the residual side effects of waste and corruption that often define the lives of many of our people especially, disadvantaged families, our seniors, underprivileged youth and young women. The inability to recognize ourselves in one another; the inability to recognize that our past and future are intertwined together because of our collective challenges, collective idea, collective history, and collective hope for a better future for our nation, children and ourselves.
We have an empathy deficit went ordinary Liberians cannot afford to feed their children not talking about sending them to school however some government officials are riding US$100K CARS. We have an empathy deficit went teachers do not receive their salaries as promised and the school system is not preparing our children for the future but government officials are seeking immunity from prosecution or lawsuits in the performance and execution of their duties. We have a deficit went majority of the Liberian’s children are attending schools in forgotten towns and villages of across Liberia. We have a deficit went a few directors and/or executives get paid more than the whole workforce. We have a deficit went the mother of 7 children cannot afford to feed her children not talking about sending them to school. We have a deficit went we give justice to others because of connection while leaving others to fend for themselves.
To the Liberian Government, it’s not enough to seek debt relief for Liberia yet signing a legislature (The Maritime Authority Act) that will indebt future generation for many years to come. It’s not enough to seek debt relief for Liberia yet some members of the Executive Branch are riding US$100K CARS. This is what the debate is all about in 2011. We cannot say that we love Liberia but engage in activities that plunder the natural resources and promote financial irresponsibility in Liberia. We cannot say that we love Liberia but don’t invest in Liberia’s future (The youth).
Just like Honorable Evans Koah, if more politicians and government officials decide to put loyalty to the country above personal greed may be the walls of corruption and waste will become loose thereby pulling it down. If more politicians and government officials decide to put the national interest of our beloved country (Liberia) above party ideology may be the walls of lack of quality education and health care for all Liberians will become loose thereby pulling it down. If more politicians and government officials decide to put the interest of the masses above tribalism, nepotism, and religious intolerance may the walls of lack of equality and social justice for all will become loose thereby pulling it down. We have a moral deficit in Liberia that has to be closed. The choice is clear and the time is now. DO THE RIGHT THING and stop playing politics with our future and the national interest of our beloved country (Liberia) because loyalty to the country is paramount to loyalty government persons, party and/or any ministries.
Thank you and May God bless the Republic of Liberia.
LEAD Organizing For Liberia
Abraham Hoff, Chief Community Organizer
077384990 leadliberia@yahoo.com
News Headline
Everyone is a genius
Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish on its ability to climb a tree, it will live its whole life believing that it is stupid. – A Einstein
Drawing the line in Liberia
Crimes sponsored, committed, or masterminded by handful of individuals cannot be blamed upon an entire nationality. In this case, Liberians! The need for post-war justice is a step toward lasting peace, stability and prosperity for Liberia. Liberia needs a war crimes tribunal or some credible legal forum that is capable of dealing with atrocities perpetrated against defenseless men, women and children during the country's brutal war. Without justice, peace shall remain elusive and investment in Liberia will not produce the intended results. - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Men with unhealthy characters should not champion any noble cause
They pretend to advocate the cause of the people when their deeds in the dark mirror nothing else but EVIL!!
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
When evil and corrupt men try to champion a cause that is so noble … such cause, how noble it may be, becomes meaningless in the eyes of the people - Bernard Gbayee Goah.
If Liberia must move forward ...
If Liberia must move forward in order to claim its place as a civilized nation amongst world community of nations, come 2017 elections, Liberians must critically review the events of the past with honesty and objectivity. They must make a new commitment to seek lasting solutions. The track records of those who are presenting themselves as candidates for the position of "President of the Republic of Liberia" must be well examined. Liberians must be fair to themselves because results from the 2011 elections will determine the future of Liberia’s unborn generations to come - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's greatest problem!
While it is true that an individual may be held responsible for corruption and mismanagement of funds in government, the lack of proper system to work with may as well impede the process of ethical, managerial, and financial accountability - Bernard Gbayee Goah
What do I think should be done?
The situation in Liberia is Compound Complex and cannot be fixed unless the entire system of government is reinvented.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Liberia needs a workable but uncompromising system that will make the country an asylum free from abuse, and other forms of corruption.
Any attempt to institute the system mentioned above in the absence of rule of law is meaningless, and more detrimental to Liberia as a whole - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia's Natural Resources
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Besides land water and few other resources, most of Liberia’s dependable natural resources are not infinite, they are finite and therefore can be depleted.
Liberia’s gold, diamond, and other natural resources will not always be an available source of revenue generation for its people and its government. The need to invent a system in government that focuses on an alternative income generation method cannot be over emphasized at this point - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Liberia needs a proper system
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
If Liberians refuse to erect a proper system in place that promotes the minimization of corruption and mismanagement of public funds by government institutions, and individuals, there will come a time when the value of the entire country will be seen as a large valueless land suited on the west coast of Africa with some polluted bodies of waters and nothing else. To have no system in place in any country is to have no respect for rule of law. To have no respect for rule of law is to believe in lawlessness. And where there is lawlessness, there is always corruption - Bernard Gbayee Goah
Solving problems in the absence of war talks
As political instability continues to increase in Africa, it has become abundantly clear that military intervention as a primary remedy to peace is not a durable solution. Such intervention only increases insecurity and massive economic hardship. An existing example which could be a valuable lesson for Liberia is Great Britain, and the US war on terror for the purpose of global security. The use of arms whether in peace keeping, occupation, or invasion as a primary means of solving problem has yield only little results. Military intervention by any country as the only solution to problem solving will result into massive military spending, economic hardship, more fear, and animosity as well as increase insecurity. The alternative is learning how to solve problems in the absence of war talks. The objective of such alternative must be to provide real sustainable human security which cannot be achieved through military arm intervention, or aggression. In order to achieve results that will make the peaceful coexistence of all mankind possible, there must be a common ground for the stories of all sides to be heard. I believe there are always three sides to every story: Their side of the story, Our side of the story, and The truth – Bernard Gbayee Goah