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December 10, 2011
Liberia’s Planning and Economic Affairs Minister Hon. Amara Konneh
addressed cross section of Liberians in Philadelphia.
December 10, 2011
Liberia’s Planning and Economic Affairs Minister addressed the larger
Liberian community in Philadelphia on Thursday 12/08/2011 at ACANA on
Chester Ave. in an unofficial capacity. Minister Konneh who spoke to the
Liberian community through the “Independent Intellectual Forum of
Philadelphia” said he feels very good to be back and speak to his base.
I am not the official spokes person of the Liberian government and as
such, I will not speak in detail but instead will just give you
Liberians here some highlights about our present day Liberia, Minister
Konneh added. Having said that, let me congratulate all Liberians of our
victory in the just ended free, transparent, and fair elections in our
country. As a campaign chairman, I want to openly say here that the just
ended elections in Liberia was remarkably handled
well by the National Elections
Commissions of Liberia (NEC), the Economic Community of West Africans
States (ECOWAS), the international community, other interest groups as
well as the Liberian voting population. The Economic Community of West
African States (ECOWAS) deployed a huge number of observers ever in the
history of modern day Liberia’s elections, Minister Konneh noted. The
voters turn out was massive and very much encouraging. However, the
second round was different in terms of turn out owing to the following
factors; most of the representatives and senatorial candidates whom
encouraged and transported most voters from one point to the other
during the first round of voting were not active during the second round
because according to the Minister, their part of the process was over.
The representatives and senatorial candidates never had any more
interest in the presidential election because some have either won or
lose their elections. Another reason was the fear voters had about
things going worse given the numerous threats by some opposition
parties. The third reason can be attributed to the boycott by the
Congress for Democratic Change (CDC). Amidst all of these ups and downs,
our people still turned out to vote for the future of the country which
resulted to the clear victory of Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of the
Unity Party.
Fellow Liberians, if we take a look back at the trajectory of our
country from 1972 till 2003, you will agree with me that the total years
in between would be 31. I want us to consider this as an era that saw
our country Liberia in a disjointed economic trench that requires
vigorous economic recovery strategies. You can now see that the recovery
process from such a milt-down requires concerted efforts on the part all
Liberians in other to get our country moving strong again.
The Minister also mentioned that the “human capacity building process”
the Unity Party led government has embarked is going to continue. There
are some Universities here in the United States that we will be sending
some of our young students to by 2012 to achieve career education, the
Minister told the audience.
In his final remarks, Minister Konneh said that the “feeling and habit
of entitlement” by Liberians should at all times be discouraged.
According to Minister Konneh, when the Liberian government awards
contracts to some Liberian contractors, they performed very poorly as
compared to foreign contractors. This is making things difficult for us
as officials of government. In as much as we will want to help improve
the business of our people, we also expect very good results from the
projects they are tasked with. We all need to help the building of our
country, the Minister noted.
Some of the high profile personalities in attendance were: Hon. Wilmot
W. Kunney, Chairman of the Board of Directors of ULAA, Hon. Anthony
Kesselly, former National President of ULAA, Hon. Mohamed Bility,
President of FELMAUSA, Mr. Dahn Dennis, President of the Liberians
Association of Pennsylvania (LAP), Adolphine Kannal, Secretary of the
Board of Directors of (LAP), Mr. Christopher Selekpoh, Secretary General
of (LAP). Also present were Hon. Stanley Staughter representing the City
of Philadelphia, Mr. Kalefala Turay, Chairman of Independent
Intellectual Forum of Philadephia, and Imam Mohamed Kenneh as well as
host of other important Liberian community members.
King Mohamed-PRO FELMAUSA
2677028982
www.felmausa.org |
