Kula V. Fofana- Liberian Activist
October 8, 2017
In few minutes, election campaign activities will come to an end in Liberia. The country is expected to hold a third in a series of elections since the end of the civil war in 2003. This election will be recorded as a historic one as it will be the first time in more than 70 years that a democratically elected government will be turning power over to another democratically elected president.
Liberia story is not a unique one. The challenges are many. The war years left indelible scars that may take forever to heal. More than anything else, Liberians need an assurance of a secured nation. Security in this sense goes beyond tradition security. Human security is what is necessary for Liberia's transition. A 1994 United Nations Development Program (UNDP) report defines security as for people rather than territories, with development rather than arms. It further equates human security to economic security, food security, health security, environmental security, political security, community security, personal security etc.
For Liberians, what matters is the economic viability for all and not the 1950s "growth without development" under President Tubman's leadership.
In these elections, there are twenty presidential candidates in the race to replace H.E President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Each of these candidates has sold to you their platforms throughout the campaign period. Some did so explicitly while others did vaguely. Some used larger stages like debates while others thought there isn't value added to debates and boycotted. However you received the messages, some are meant to be given serious thoughts. Electronic and Print media were flooded with those messages.
Yes, you have heard and seen a lot. If you are a non-partisan like myself, it makes it challenging to pick a choice as elections are not of saints. It took me a long time to finally decide who to support in these elections. Though primarily it was due to the respect of the Code of Conduct. This also is in no violation of the Code as it protects respect of opinions of public officials. After several pondering, and in my opinion, the best choice for Liberia's transition is H.E Joseph N. Boakai, Vice President of the Republic of Liberia.
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf ran a "transitional government" and we must all give her a standing ovation and due credit. Before 2006, Liberia was a total mess. The physical and mental shells of the guns and bullets were present everywhere. Education, health, infrastructure, social services were all non-existent. The country's image internationally was bleak. Being a Liberia outside of Liberia drew pity and sorrow. She knew it was not going to be an easy task.She was the "Danielle" thrown in the Lion's den.
The destruction of more than 14 years cannot be built in 12 years.
Under her leadership, Liberia has done amazingly in many areas and will do more with JNB at the helm. The last 12 years was a transition from our bitter past to a more sustained and prosperous nation.
Looking ahead, we must own up to our challenges of reconciliation and corruption and JNB has promised to do just that.
When he said and emphasized ROAD, ROAD, ROAD as a necessity for development, I couldn't help but nod in agreement. In 2010 as a research assistant on a project to study Liberian schools with the American Research Institute, we traveled across the country and saw how deplorable roads were. Again in 2012, as Co-Chairperson on Liberia's Vision 2030, I had the opportunity to travel to majority of the counties and saw how access to market was impeding growth and development. In 2009, on my way to Grand Bassa for a project, we had to sleep in our truck because the roads were damaged and impassable. I partly grew up in Caldwell. For the longest i could remember, Caldwell Road was a messy stretch. It took us hours from Samukai Camp to Caldwell Junction. When the road was paved, my elder sister decided to pay a visit to relatives in Samukai Camp. She drove less than 20 minutes and was in Lousiana very far from Samukai Camp. She had to be reminded by passersbys that she has passed the Camp and was redirected. Today, many of those stories have changed and others would change with JNB.
Opportunity squandered and parked Race Car Anology
Many people like to make a mountain out of a molehill. When VP Boakai talked about squandering opportunity, he meant collectively as a government- including the legislature- there were many missed opportunities. Squandered may have been a harsh choice of word but the legislature and judiciary had a role as well in the governance. His reference to a race car was not to blame in any way H.E Madam President but to state the limation within our constitution for the role of the VP.
He has been a loyal, down to earth, and humble Vice President with integrity and I believe his Presidency will do more and make Liberia work for us all in continuation of Madam President's legacy.
Think Liberia, Love Liberia, Build Liberia
Vote Wisely!
The banquet that squandered our opportunities will be democratically disrupted on October 10, 2017. Political opportunism will not see a third term. Enough is enough.
ReplyDeleteI stand with you in this support for Vice President's Presidency bid. Growth has taken in this country but most of our political actors are turning a blind eye on these things just so they can score political points. Of late, these are some of the gains made by this regime that are triggering my support for the VP Boakai:
ReplyDeleteThe 2016 Central Bank Report outlined so much, but below is an abstract that renewed my vigor and agility to vote the Unity Party for a third term:
The banking industry witnessed strong
growth in its balance sheet in 2016.
Total assets, capital and deposits rose
by 5.4 percent, 21.2 percent and 3.8
percent, respectively, compared with
7.5 percent, 0.8 percent and 16.0
percent in 2015, respectively. Overall,
the financial system has grown
stronger and remains resilient, despite
some negative impacts.
Overall, the financial sector continued to expand and remain relatively resilient, despite the challenges described. Total credit to all sectors of the economy grew by 11.3 percent, during the year, due mainly to a resumption of economic activities in key sectors. The gradual improvements in the energy sector, and in farm-to-market and other roads, triggered this development, and saw the private sector capture 97.3 percent share of total credit. This reflects the growing contribution of the private sector as a driver of balanced and sustainable economic growth. It should be noted that despite the reported increase in credit to the economy, the level of non-performing loans significantly improved, from 18.5 percent in 2015 to 11.8 percent in 2016 due mainly to the stringent policy measures instituted by the CBL against delinquent borrowers, including the joint initiative with the Liberia Bankers Association of naming and shaming chronic defaulters.
Unquote
The CBL reduced the reserve ratio from 15 to 10 percent. There is no way the CBL will reduce the reserve ratio when banks are showing signs of insolvency. They would keep the ratio high to protect the integrity of the financial system.
Quote
Developments in the financial system. from Page 21.
At end-November, 2016 total credit to all sectors of the economy amounted to L$39,249.3million, indicating an expansion of 15.6 percent relative to the amount recorded at end-
December, 2015. The main drivers of credit growth during the period under review, 2016 were Construction and Mining & Quarrying sectors. Also loans and advances to the Trade sub-sector as part of the Trade, Hotel & Restaurant sector as well as the “Others Sector” contributed significantly to credit growth in the year. Mining & Quarrying expanded by 21.7
percent; Construction by 3.2 percent; Trade, Hotel & Restaurant by 3.3 percent, and the “Others” Sector by 87.3 percent. The “Others Sector” comprises loans and advances to individuals, the government sector and loans not classified under any particular sector. The
expansion in credit was mainly due to resumption of economic activities which were triggered by the improved and promising energy and road infrastructures. As in the previous year, the private sector accounted for nearly 98.0 percent of total credit for the period. The contribution of the private sector to credit growth reflects the growing activities in the sector which is necessary for a balanced and sustainable growth and development of the economy.
Unquote
We can use some of these information to inform our judgments during this political season as I have done joor.