George Weah,if I can be heard by yhou it will be prudent and very benificial for yhou to think about developing your talent that God had given you, and forget about politics.I mean we all know and it is through soccer that you got your blessings and fortune and it is good for yhou to keep it that way. What else do you want from this earth when yhou think about gaining thte whole world and losing your soul? I do not think so. Soccer, you can imagin yhou did your best for this country and yourself by puting your name in history as the first and ever Black man to be thte World best footballer of the year. I will like for you to undeerstand that it is about time for yhou think about how you can play your part in developing the game in Liberia. I mean since you started this quest for politics, you have turned yhour back on the area that you got your blessings from. George, for example you have not thought on how you can open a school or some training program for upcoming youthsw in the area of soccer; as how Abedi Pele, Samuel Eto and other African Greats ar doing for their copuntry. T

you foolish amara konneh shut up ur stink mouth .who know you in liberia? i hope you are not getten out of your mine, by telling weah to get back school. what is the problem with weah and education? imagine all your naive educators that you have now as leaders what is their functions? you stupidly incoperated a vandal like ellen in our society as president, and you have alot to say about poor boy who is trying for our country to be known. i just want you to know that a leader can be born, but can never be made. please have your mouth closed and leave Weah along for God sake.foolish glory seeker like you . im presently in los anegele if you want me to prove myself what it take im willing. and have this in mine that Weah will wine what ever it takewe are set for this time.. shame on once again i hate you for ever.

Well,brother,it's not my duty to be on this forum. But taking into account,it's about a member of a Government I have come to admire. Therefore, I must say to you Mr.Isquaye that a foolish person can't occupy a Planning Ministry in any country. This position is for people with the know-how! I believe and I'm quite sure that Amara Konneh is one of the sound and educated Minister that Liberia has got. I'm always reading developments from Liberia,from my Freetown City.

On the achievements of Ellen and the UP party,one needs not to say it because the Western World and Africa is seeing the great improvement that your country Liberia is heading to.Do not see a car running and giving smoke on the streets,then you condemn it right away. Remember that,that car once dropped you to a no go area. I'm just trying to tell you that the UP Government has done alot in Liberia. Hold it with two hands and don't let it go away from Liberia.

We're doing the same thing here in Sierra Leone.We're happy with the Ernest Koroma led APC Government.The best Government that I have seen in Sierra Leone in 35 years. No one will fool us not to give them the second term in 2012. Koroma will surely get a second chance come 2012.Please forgive me. I'm not campaigning for President Koroma for the 2012 but I do praise him for his good Leadership in Sierra Leone today.

This is the big problem in Liberia. People do not know the value of education. Lack of education is the reason why the country has been mismanaged ever since the Tubman days. This is why you commenters will praise George Weah, a man who cannot read and goes to a university that people in the US do not take seriously, but you condemn the Minister of Planning who attended one of the top universities in the world. He is right to say Liberia deserves an educated President. Nothing limits achievement like small thinking. not George Weah who takes classes online. Until we believe Liberia deserves better from it's leaders, Liberia will not get better.

I have to agree with the Planning Minister on this one. Building inclusive post-conflict governance or state building in post conflict countries is a tenious process that require people with the academic, technical skills and experience because conflict is the antithesis of development and George Weah has none. We can't put Liberia future in hand of mere footballer

I want to on the issue of our football lergent (Mr.Weah) talk to people who cleaming to be his spoke men to first talk to him to get his point of view on issues before commenting ,because there are some important information that we who live with Mr.Weah can back him on but not everything (eg. the high school he graduated (if not G. E. D he got ) web site and the name and web.site of his collage in the U S A are unknown and as Mr.Konneh said in his comment on George, we as liberians will in this new WORLD know our leaders before they sit in our leading chair(s). And Mr. Quaye,please i want you to tell us liberians besides football what else can you point to of weah that making Liberia known compair to Mrs.ellen j. Sirleaf. Please i am awaiting the answers to these questions also ask him if school close now in America ,for student to travel, leaving classes for more than a week or two.

heey have it closed my young man, i know fully well that you cant never compare your ellen with George Weah in any thing as i said. look you mr glory seeker, let me bring this to your attention that a leader can be born but can never be made, pls have this mine.so if you still want me to tell the difference, i can asure you weah is more nationalistic then your so called ellen. we the liberian today are not really concern about how well you learn, but what you can do for the country. many of you seem very naive in that you people dont make decision at the appropriate time. now the difference between ellen and Weah is confirmed if you dont know.ellen is known as vandal while Weah is also known as nationlist. i can still go on to tell you more about your ellen if you like. how fool are you to hold on to some one who is the roote cause of ur nightmare, i think know excatly what i mean. please leave Weah along for God sake if you really dont have anything to say. SHAME ON YOU AND YOUR ellen. i await ur respond.

This is the big problem in Liberia. People do not know the value of education. Lack of education is the reason why the country has been mismanaged ever since the Tubman days. This is why you commenters will praise George Weah, a man who cannot read and goes to a university that people in the US do not take seriously, but you condemn the Minister of Planning who attended one of the top universities in the world. He is right to say Liberia deserves an educated President. Nothing limits achievement like small thinking. not George Weah who takes classes online. Until we believe Liberia deserves better from it's leaders, Liberia will not get better.

I have to agree with the Planning Minister on this one. Building inclusive post-conflict governance or state building in post conflict countries is a tenious process that require people with the academic, technical skills and experience because conflict is the antithesis of development and George Weah has none. We can't put Liberia future in hand of mere footballer.

Also the most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. This myth asserts that people simply either have certain charismatic qualities or not. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born. I start with the premise that the function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers and I hope the Liberians can do that for the coming generation by making sure George Weah is not elected President of Liberia.

Please leave liberia redemer alone,what education Konneh has, or Ellen, before the country is looking as it is,there no youth programs, no jobs health care is poor,Konneh is just another eye servant who want to protect his job,who is he to warn a lengend like Amb. Weah about education,we know Konneh belongs to the forces of Evil that are destorying our country economically,they are the educated people who knows nothing but to steal public funds.let Konneh be warned that we are also ready for not only him but all corrupt govt.evil minded officials who going about stealing.what has Konneh education he claim to have done for liberia. a big shame on you, eye servant Konneh.we are also READY.

"I live in America so I know the system there. So he can't come and lie. " Not all who live in America know the system intimately. For instance, now and then we read about college students and others in their 20s being voted into county and statewide offices.

So, dear ignoramus, you lie.

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"Go on the old road. Look at the street and see the lights. .."

Wonderful! Now the increasing multitudes of newly-destitute Liberians sleeping by the side of the old road can see the roaches inside their ramshackle cardboard boxes ...

That is progress, right?

.

"The Minister said .. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff does not understand the "constitution of Liberia." And this minister's familiarity with his country's constitution AND his patriotism are suspect: Would he speak up if the constitution is being violated? If so, why didn't he state at this meet whether Mr Weah was disqualified by the said constitution from seeking that office - on account of his age or student status?

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"CDC being in power ... forget it, the country would have been upside down."

The country IS upside down, creep.

"I live in America so I know the system there. So he can't come and lie. "

Most of those who live in Liberia don't know the system well. Most of those who live in the USA don't know the system intimately. And YOU are a good example. For instance, now and then we read about college students and others in their 20s being voted into political offices, countywide and statewide. And of course elected officials are not barred from pursuing further studies in colleges and universities.

So, dear ignoramus, you go to Liberia and lie.

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"Go on the old road. Look at the street and see the lights. .."

Wonderful! Now the increasing multitudes of destitute Liberians sleeping by the side of the old road can easily see and count the roaches inside their makeshift cardboard boxes ...

That is progress, right?

.

"The Minister said .. Geraldine Doe-Sheriff does not understand the "constitution of Liberia."

And this minister's familiarity with his country's constitution AND his patriotism are suspect: Would he speak up if the constitution is being violated? If so, why didn't he state at this meet whether Mr Weah was disqualified by the said constitution from seeking that office - on account of his age or student status?

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"CDC being in power ... forget it, the country would have been upside down."

The country IS upside down, creep, and you are happily helping it down that path.

Excuse me.

Degree,degree,degree,degree,degree.oh my brothers and sisters please wake up from your dead sleep.what have thus educated people done for us and our nation since 166 yrs of independent and what are they doing to do now? am sure both of us know that it was thus same educated people who uses thier education to buy weapons and killed almost half of a million liberian and burnt our country to ashes.it was these same educated people who made children to RADE thier own mothers and made majority of our youths's future to be uncertain while thier wives and children are enjoying the income of our nation resources in america and europe.come on brothers and stop been another fools for thus socalled educated unpatriotic people.they got no visions and passion for our country but only to come from america with degrees to fool us and steal every little thing in country and go back to america to support thier wives and kids while majarity of our people are dying with diseases and hunger.our country is the least undeveloped among the undeveloping countries in the world despite of the riches GOD gave us just because this nation have been ruled by thus same socalled educated people who got no love for us.what make you a truth educated man is what you can offer to develope the minds and future of your people but not how much you can steal to run away or how many weapons you can buy to kill the same very people you want to rule.so kindly leave george weah alone because as far as am concerned there is nowhere in the constituition of our country which state that only a educated man should take part in election.george weah have done better and brought proud to our nation and its people more than any other educated man or woman in liberia,king weah uses his personal football money to comfort liberian who were refugees around west africa while thus same educated people were using thier cash to import guns to kill us.george weah supported students in refugees camps,he help old people and donoted money to help fees our brothers and sisters who were dying in camps at the result of war.a war which our same educators were using thier money to win regardless of who is kill or alive.come on brothers i love you all but wake up and let us be proud of our ourselves and our natives brothers and am sure together,we can build a better liberia which we can be proud of. may the lord bless we all and our nation mamam liberia.

Other than promoting soccer in Liberia which is debatable on some levels, what can Weah show that he has done with his wealth to promote overall development in Liberia? Even his work in uplifting soccer in Liberia remains unfinished and yet he wants to be president. Since the guy left the sport or retired, there is a lack of interest in promoting the advancement of the other young ones who have similar talent. Its a kind of selfishness that some Liberians have who have been sucessful in a certain field yet they don't want others to reach to the same heights. Those who worked with him even attest to his insecurities and inability to work with others. No one has to tell you what insecurity in leadership does in Africa. Many African heads of state have become despots because they can"t stand to be srutinized. What policy prescriptions has Weah provided to answer questions on the economy or poverty reduction? What can Weah show that he has done to promote the overall development of Liberia? Youth activism, if I can call it that, is not sufficient grounds to be elected president. Governance of a country is a very complex area and in Liberia with the many problems, it requires the ability to acquire international support around a clear-cut development agenda. Liberia does not have the resources at the moment so having a government like that of sirleaf is a blessing for the people of Liberia. Weah lacks the discipline and the moral backing to provide leadership over the many complex prblems facing the country. I agree with the guy from Sierra leone. Liberians better learn from the experiences of other African countries that are on the move in terms of economic development. If Liberians do not, they will have no one the blame but themselves. The international community will say we provided you with the environment to conduct democratic elections and get a credible government but you chose to squander the opportunity over petty greed and hate. Did I read that some one wrote a statement saying that they hate Amara Konneh. That is a loaded word. Hatred? Is that what the Weah supporters are about? Promoting another round of hatred in Liberia? I don't think Amara hates Weah but it nothing wrong with calling one out on issues of moral judgement. Weah chose to return to Liberia and make a statement about linking his pursuit of an education to leadership. It was a political statement and got a politically-charged response. He invited it on himself. I would have come home to promote Geraldine Doe and leave myself out of this political debate. You see Sirleaf, she has said consistently when it comes to cross the bridge. She will cross it in letting the Liberian people know of her intentions on running. Right now, she is focussing on her job under a very challenging domestic and international recessionary envirionment.

" .. what can Weah show that he has done with his wealth to promote overall development in Liberia? .. "

1) Are you just sitting around expecting others to develope Liberia for your enjoyment?

2) Do you imply that leadership in Liberia is closed to the poor people?

That only the wealthy can seek leadership in Liberia?

Can we then assume that your criterion for choosing from among those who vie for leadership will be (s)he who has spent the most on development?

Is there any guidance from Liberia's constitution in this regard?

4) Entrepreneurs invest to make a profit. Isn't the governmment of Liberia the entity that crafts the policies that promote "overall development" in Liberia?

Is education the issue here or who can actually do the job. Who care if Konneh attended school in America. Weah is rich but does not look down on people who are poor. In my view, Weah represents the majority considering his background. OH!!! Corruption everywhere,schools under funded,healthcare is zero, unemploymeny sky high, entire country still in darkness and no safe drinking water, bad roads in every county, no SECURITY, justice system is rotten and so on.... Change the message cuzz much 2b done your.

How dumb and stupid you are. What riches have to do with steering the state of a country coming from 14 years civil war. We Liberian are damn ignorant. We put idiot like Taylor to ascend to the Liberian presidency with the assumption that he was rich and was going to steal Liberian money and look what happen? How can people in Liberia even thing about making a mere footballer president. what a joke.

Indeed, the president's son is on record for having said recently that his mother

[who had committed to one-term but now, after having tasted power, wants to stay on and on - like any other failed, egoistic strongman]

should be re-elected because she is effective at begging foreigners for handouts.

Yet, despite the handouts extended to the begging president's administration, economic development in Liberia is elucive.

Your post reminds us that the salvation and future of economic development in Liberia is not to be found in the country's dependency on foreign handouts or how readily one can come up with foreign money - which can be withheld by the donor at a whim .. and which often come attached to debilitating constraints and strings which may deliver future generations of Liberians unto bondage ..

Can George Weah try to help improve the SOCCER TEAM IN LIBERIA where he gained all his national and international status before climbing to the presidency? I think right now our soccer team needs attention and George Weah should be the right person for this because he has ALL THE EXPERIENCE THE TEAM NEEDS instead of being the president of LIBERIA where his role will be limitted to only signing papers for spongers to steal our money.

At least with the football team when he failed to discipline the team; we will still have money to do other things in the nation instead of taking on a task that he has minimum experiece.

George, please help the team! Your service is needed here.

" ..before climbing to the presidency? .."

Wouldn't he be in a better position to do that AFTER he is sworn in as president?

To All:

I read all your positngs with deep pride. It really moved me to see all of you participating in the directions our nation should persue. You all have your own man running for office, and are voicing your support. The issues facing the nation are very critical, and therefore, required experience and vissionary individuals to lead us. It is very important in every selection, we listen and watch those who vie for the nation's leadership. Based upon their vision and experience, we should make our decision or cast our votes.

This is not a popularity contest and should not be treated like one. Our children's future is at risk therefore we must be wise in our decision making. We should not and must avoid making decision for our children's future based on likability. Meaning, we should not cast our votes for anyone because we like that person or because, he or she is popular. Rather, we must cast our votes because the message resinates our visions and dreams for ourselves and the nation.

You have another chance to choose the right person for the job. Therefore, take the time and interest to listen to each individual who is running for the post. This should not be about political party; it must be about who is the man or woman with the right message, to help shape our nation's future.

Let us get into the habbit of our political debate on this forum in a civil manner. Let's be realistic as the issues facing us are real. We must also be artistic and analysts, as the decision we make will determine the outcome of our future. We must not draw the line prematurely as we need and must investigate the solutions being set forth by those running to be our leaders.

With this, I command all of you posters for the views you have expressed. Arguments can be make from each of the view presented as, they pose legimate questions about certain issues. I believe the younger generation will indeed see this new trend in our political process and without no doubt, learn from it. Let's keep up the good debate!!!

Good Day...

Hold on here. I have been insulted and even the Liberian people as a whole by one of the writers simply bcuz of our views. Wow! No time for this. I don't support any of the players in the political arena but when something don't look or sound right, I speak out. When someone disagrees with you, they're not dumb or stupid, they just see it differently. You don't have to physically sit in class inorder 2b in school. Online classes please. I know you will curse d heck out of me again. 8s aight.

If we compare the past Educated leaders to the past uneducated ones, We will see the big diffrence.Liberian goverments never one day put up a foundation to build ministry.. But uneducated Doe did, he build the sport studium we see today.I wouldn't comment on taylor cuz i know that he was never given money to develop liberia. and he had war on his back.But look at how we the common liberians are suffering. I read some one talking about old road and the lights. Is that all ? Nobody could take liberia from the was stage accept Ellen. Apart from her america would have continue to suffer liberians.

" .. Nobody could take liberia from the was stage accept Ellen. "

So, if Ellen dies today, then "Liberia" will be no more - from today, right?

I think Liberians want to live and they have their dreams and hopes as well as the hopes of Liberia's future generations invested in the continuing prosperity of their country.

And should Liberians suspect Ellen to be such a risk, they would move with amazing speed to reduce their dependency on Ellen immediately - or perhaps in the coming election.

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" .. Apart from her america would have continue to suffer liberians. ."

Are you suggesting that Liberia cannot survive without America?

Then what do Liberians celebrate when they talk of "independence"?

Do you suggest that Liberia is in fact a colony or a ward of USA? [The design of Liberia's national flag fills people of goodwill with considerable unease ...]

There is a lot of talk here about the "educated" and "uneducated".

Perhaps some of you can tell us this: Is "education" synonymous with "leadership"?

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Should we always search for the most educated person since we need the best in leadership capabilities? And why does the Constitution of Loberia fail to state so - very clearly? And why haven't the people of Liberia clamoured for that to be a supreme guiding principle in their selection of leaders?

.

Since good leaders are apparently in short supply, should the schools in Liberia spend most or all the time teaching students about "Leadership"?