New Democrat (Monrovia)
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This is an article from the Liberian press.

Liberia: President Bemoans Death of 'Merit System'


AllAfrica aggregates reports from Africa's news media. This is an article from the Liberian press. It is not a report by AllAfrica.

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has bemoaned the withering of the merit system in the country, while frowning on the endemic corruption prevailing and repeating her vow, "flush it out."

Speaking at the poorly attended opening of a two-day Public Sector workshop organized by the Governance Commission, the President said that the conflict "over the years has killed the merit system based on people's talents and abilities and not special connections of links.

She said the prolonged years of conflict have led to institutional breakdowns. "We no longer have the merit system", she said nostalgia.

The president recalled that in the 1970s, Liberia decided to adopt the public sector reform through the Civil Service Agency, introducing the merit system but that nowadays, financial management, institution building, capacity development are difficult to be achieved.

President Sirleaf, told the scanty audience that corruption is difficult to fight because it is not only in government but can also be felt in all facets of the society but promised to flush it out through a robust government's reform agenda.

"You know one of the biggest elements in financial management is to control corruption. This is very topical and please believe me, it is a difficult one. It is systemic, it is not just in government, and just in big fish, big fish, small fish, middle size fish all of fishes - it is inside them "she said.

To reduce corruption, president Sirleaf said she will rely on the Government Auditing Commission, a reShe said the already, the Civil Service Agency (CSA) has completed a "complete reform of the Civil Service which includes the merit system" and that the cabinet has approved it.


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Comments 1 to 3 of 3 Post a comment

  • liberia1
    Dec 3 2009, 23:07

    Who is Pres Sirleaf fooling???

    Not the majority of Liberians.

    She of all persons should not be bemoaning the death of the merit system.

    She had all the opportunities since her presidency to restore the merit system effectively but she stacked the government with all her cronies and now she is crying crocodile tears.

    Go on Sirleaf, but know that God does not like "ugly doers".

    Your time is coming. God is watching.

  • yguluma
    Dec 5 2009, 18:20

    She is not fooling anyone. She is just telling the truth. And to those of you who do not see corruption in every society of the Liberian population including schools,private bussiness, Government, and every other works of life, I wonder; Are you one of those she is talking about? Thank God she can even talk about it. There has never been any leader in the history of that country that has ever talked or even tried to address corruption until she took over.

    We do not expect a 100% elimination of corruption in Liberia but, if it can be brougt down to a level where our people can see developments and be employ, that is a good start.Even the world's greatest countries have not wept out corruption hundred full. And as the world's economy starts to improve in the next few months, I am sure there is going to be more improvements in Liberia including employment opportunaties. From mining, to Agriculture and construction. God bless our beloved Country and gave us the heart of patience, to understand, what was not done in many decades, will be done in bits and pieces(gradually).

  • liberia1
    Dec 6 2009, 07:54

    Yea right!!!!

    I don't know which country you are talking about.

    Sirleaf is adding to the corruption by the minute by stacking the deck with all her cronies and not letting them go, even if their hands are caught in the cookie jar, ie via the audit reports. Take the case of Laurence Bropleh, Willis Knuckles and Harry Greaves who are still wheeling and dealing from an arms length of her in Monrovia. Why are these guys not in jail yet!!

    Talk is cheap. Action is serious.

    Wake up, man or just go back to your coccoon of stupidity and oblivion.

    I say so!!!!!