Liberia: Gedeh Politics Over '26 Celebration Former Supt Rejects Nomination on Committee

20 November 2015

It is often said that one reason for the rotation of the celebration of important national days in Liberia, particularly the Independence Anniversary of the country, is to promote unity and peace amongst Liberians, particularly citizens of the host communities of those anniversaries. This has been the case because, as an avalanche of guests from various parts of the country descend upon the host county, the sons and daughters of the county both at home and abroad normally come together, rally around each other—or at least they are expected to do so—in order to put up the most colorful and generous reception that communicates distinction and style in the minds and hearts of the visitors for the host. But these are hard times, and intra-county politics at times set in and the cardinal unity and peace objective of the ceremonies soon gives way to personality contests and acrimonies between and amongst political protagonists. This situation is lifting up its ugly head in Grand Gedeh County where the country’s 169 Independence Anniversary is expected to be celebrated next year. The Analyst reports.

At the celebration of the 168th Independence Anniversary of Liberia held in both Sinoe and Grand Kru County, it was announced that the next celebration would be in another southeastern province, Grand Gedeh County. With nearly seven months left, it is not clear how prepared the county and its people in terms of the adequate preparation for the national and international guests that are warming up to see the home of former President Samuel Kanyon Doe’s “Zolo Whisky”, as Grand Gedeh is fondly called. What is clear, of course, is that politicians are drawing lines in the sand over who takes what position on the many committees set up recently by the administration of the county.
Christ Bailey is a former superintendent who served several years of President Sirleaf’s first tenure since 2006. The current superintendent of the county who announced names of committee members for the celebration named Bailey on the Public Relations and Awareness Committee. He has declined the appointment for multiple reasons.
In a communication November 17, 2015, former Superintendent Bailey said not only was he not consulted before the appointment but that naming him to serve on the instant committee with a “nominal committee below my status.”

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