The Inquirer (Monrovia)
Patrick Wrokpah
15 November 2008
Lofa — President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has announced what can be termed as a new set of measures for individuals serving in her administration to continue serving as Cabinet Ministers.
Speaking yesterday in response to several issues raised with her by citizens of Lofa County during a town hall meeting intended to discuss the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), President Sirleaf expressed her disappointment over the failure of most Liberians neglecting their county of origin by making farms, building their own houses or shops in their home county.
The President said any member of her cabinet who does not cultivate any farm, or have a house or shop in his or her county would be considered not qualified to serve.
The President whose audience included Lawmakers of the county and members of the cabinet said as head of the nation, she has authority over the cabinet and would ensure that they comply with this directive.
"For the Lawmakers, I do not have authority over them but I can join you in a campaign to remove them," the President said when she made reference to East Africa citing Kenya as an example where she said the citizens take pride to go back home to make their farms, build shops and houses no matter how much time or jobs they may have in the city.
Giving further details on the issue in a meeting with our reporter who was in Zorzor with the President, she stressed that her pronouncement directing members of her cabinet to engage in farming, build houses and shops back home is something she is very serious about.
According to President Sirleaf, this is something she had raised with the cabinet before although she admitted that she has not been pushing on having this directive enforced and has vowed to take up the issue today with the cabinet when they meet.
President Sirleaf added that Cabinet Ministers' compliance with this directive would bring development to their county, create employment and motivate others to take interest to do likewise.
During the President's two-day visit to Lofa, she dedicated the Zorzor Rural Teacher Training Institute (ZRTTI) campus which was renovated by the United States Aid for International Development (USAID). The ZRTTI Campus was earlier turned over to President Sirleaf by the United States Ambassador to Liberia, Linda Thomas Greenfield.
The United States Government rehabilitated the ZRTTI campus at the cost of US$2.5 million.
In a related development, President Sirleaf used her two days visit to Lofa to mediate and settle a leadership dispute between the Superintendent and Senator Sumo Kupee as well as the one who became commissioner of Zorzor District.
During the settlement both Senator Kupee and Supt Galakpa Kortimai shock hands and vowed to put aside their differences and work together for the good of the county and Liberia.
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It's pandering at its worst.
Unless these are necessary or lawful residential requirements for the holding such jobs I really think this is unnecessary; we can not force people in things, especially enter businesses (shop) if that's not what they want to do.
he condition Ellen Sets Condition for Cabinet Ministers is the second foolish decision taken by the President of Liberia. The first was Charles Taylor firing his entire cabinet for not attending function he Taylor was attending. Suppose the cabinet Minister don't have land to farm or build a house. What do you expect him/her to do? Don't you think He/She might use their power just to please the President by taking land (Illegally) and using our people to farm (cheap labor)? I strongly believe that any cabinet minister that want to farm or build house in their respective county should… [Read Full Text]
I think coercing cabinet ministers in Ellen's Administration to build houses and shops and make farms in their counties of origin is a recipe for corruption. This opinion is relevant because one want to know how much her cabinet ministers are earning including salaries and other entitlements less taxes on a monthly basis. Is she giving the ministers loan to undertake this kind of investment? If that is so, then why limit such opportunity to only cabinet ministers? I agree that the poverty reduction strategy can succeed only with the direct investment of Liberians in the rural areas where it… [Read Full Text]
a minister who is not a business man/woman can not be expected to run a shop; what else would they be asked to do next. Building a house in one's home town should be an examplary sense of responsibility, and i my view shouldn't be mandated. Also there is a risks of ministries siphoning public funds to build personal dwellings. if the president is serious about rewarding those who have this sense of personal responsibility, then she should include it in her selection criteria. don't appoint before asking to build, but appoint those who have taken the iniated already. i… [Read Full Text]
The condition Ellen Sets Condition for Cabinet Ministers is the second foolish decision taken by the President of Liberia. The first was Charles Taylor firing his entire cabinet for not attending function he Taylor was attending. Suppose the cabinet Minister don't have land to farm or build a house. What do you expect him/her to do? Don't you think He/She might use their power just to please the President by taking land (Illegally) and using our people to farm (cheap labor)? I strongly believe that any cabinet minister that want to farm or build house… [Read Full Text]
CONCLUSION: SHE IS A SOUPIST.
Kindest Felicitations.
See all comments (11).
I am not sure exectly what madame johnson wants to accomplish with her new measures, or is it just one of her skills with language, the ability to use language effectively, especially to persuade or influence people. In order to successfully implement such policy, her cabinet must be equally represented by individual from each county respectively. in other words, no county will fell or be left out of the development process. what madame johnson needs to do is to engage and pursue the members of the senate and rep to carry out her idea rather than, the use of threats,… [Read Full Text]