A famous maxim says that the breeze that will disturb and ruffle the feathers of the chicken always comes from behind it. If this is anything to go by, then it would appear that some government officials who did not sign the performance contract this week, may be contemplating on the way forward or risk serious action.

This week, president Ellen Johnson Sirleafdid not wait for the hour to go by on her cabinet ministers to commit themselves to achieving their targets set up by them.

So, as part of efforts to uphold the development legacy, seven Cabinet Ministers on September 18 this year, signed Performance Contracts jointly prepared by them and the Office of the President.

This performance contracts were not imposed on them, but rather on their own will based on the budget allocated to them and their priorities.

So, the seven Ministers were among the first group that signed the Performance Contract following a Cabinet meeting. They included the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Health & Social Welfare, Information, Cultural Affairs & Tourism, Commerce & Industry, Labor, Youth & Sports, and Internal Affairs

It was made know by President Sirleaf some time ago in her quest to keep in check all appointed ministers that as part of their term of references in order to ensure praiseworthy productivity, each minister was mandated to sign a performance contract from where it would be determined if such appointed minister was up to the task or not.

Latest information obtained by this paper revealed that up to present, only the seven ministers that signed this week were working towards their targets.

But other Ministers such as hard -working Justice Minster, Transport, Gender, Post and Telecommunication, Agriculture and others are yet to come out with their contract for possible viewing and signature.

When the question what has happened to those who did not sign, tough -talking Information Minister Lewis Brown told this paper that, "some of them were either not in the country or have not submitted their yet. They were on official duty, either outside the country or within the country."

Then he continue; "Also, the rest will submit their contract once they return." He added, "once they arrive, they will take same to the president for signature. That will happen as soon as possible."

The Performance Contracts signed between the Ministers and the President of Liberia cover a one-year period beginning October 1, 2012 through September 30, 2013. This is the first time, under the administration of president Sirleaf to come out with such agreement, which many people praise.

But a senior Government who declined not to be named said, "all those who did not come with their contract within specified time frame(by October 1, 2012, they must know that the president will get down hard on them. The fact here, she is very serious about this and this is where you will know if the officials are working or not."

When this paper contacted some of the Ministers, many of them were said to have been out of office or out of the country, while some of them telephone rang without any answer.

Those who signed the contracts were challenged by President Sirleaf to "see development as dynamic and to expect a change or expansion in the targets they've set from time to time for the betterment of the country.

At the time of the signing, she gave this warning; "these priorities were set by you, and at the same time you solicited budgetary support to set these priorities. It is therefore my hope that we all will work together to deliver these priorities to our people."

The Contract asked each Minister to identify four projects (targeted goals) that can be achieved within a year and can be measured in tangible ways. "Because they are tangible, they are tied to the 2012/2013 Budget," Dr. Rogers noted.

Some of the officials said with the set time frame anyone who fails to submit risk suspension, dismissal or are likely to become vulnerable.