Championing Food Security

AFRICA LEAD Team To Conduct Training Of Several Liberians 

Stresses Need For Food Security

Wade C.L. Williams

-Suakoko Bong County

AFRICA LEAD Deputy Chief of Party Carla Dominique Denizard says with the looming global food security crisis it is important that countries begin to place emphasis on agriculture as a means of saving the continent from hunger. “There’s a call from the Africa Union’s Comprehensive African Agriculture Development Program (CAADP) for nations to adopt an agriculture-led growth strategy o bring about economic development. So that is why AFRICA LEAD aims at supporting CAADP and geared to help scale up food security,” said Denizard.

The AFRICA LEAD Executive says she wants people in authority to make a commitment to help farmers in Liberia.

Says Denizard: “To help them grow and produce more food and to earn money from it. 80% of the people in this country are farming and they don’t get a lot of support like they should and if they get more support, they will be able to increase food production, and they’ll be able to get more money and we will have food on our tables to eat and more money in our pockets,” said Denizard.

The project’s Deputy Chief of Party made the remarks when she visited Liberia recently to assess the work of Champions of the project in Liberia.

Marion M.S. Nimley one of the Champions as AFRICA LEAD refers to people who are part of its training program, says food security is a major issue that rural women need to be aware of.

Says Nimley: “Women from the rural end have not really realized the importance of food security they just take it casual. But from the training that we acquired from Accra we want to put a mechanism in place that we will be able to get the rural women who are involved in agriculture and involve them into the food security process.

Agriculture becoming greatest priority

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf speaking at the recently organized Agriculture Fair held under the Cuttington University, noted that government must now move in making agriculture its greatest priority not only for the nation to be able to feed itself but to be able to go back and restore those exports that  it had many years ago. “We must do more if we are going to support agriculture and increase the awareness and appreciation of the results of agriculture making agriculture profitable giving all the risk associated with farming,” says president Sirleaf.

Rev. Momo S. Foh, JP, Dean College of Agriculture and Integrated Development Studies, CALDS, CUC says the aim of the Agricultural fair is to bring together all stake holders who are promoting farming in the country.

James Z. Grear of NGO-Coalition among the first batch of agricultural professionals trained by AFRICA LEAD in Ghana says he has benefitted a lot from the training provided by the project. He highlights the most important thing he learned from the training as ‘not to be satisfied with the status quo’ which he says requires thinking out of the box.

 Grear says he also learned that team work should be encouraged as a team leader. He says his expertise is in the forest sector with specific mandate to sensitize community dwellers about laws concerning forests and the right of community dwellers to scrutinize concessioners before they can give up their areas for such activities.

AFRICA LEAD is a key capacity building project of the United State’s government’s Feed the Future initiative. It operates in three regions with offices in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. It also covers at least thirteen sub-Saharan Countries working across public, civil society, university and private sector institutions.

It builds the capacity of leaders to prioritize key activities and implement the Regional and Country Investment plans within the CAADP framework.

AFRICA LEAD is a key capacity building arm of the United State’s government’s Feed the Future initiative. It operates in three regions with offices in Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa. It is also in at least thirteen sub-Saharan Countries working across public, civil society, university and private sector institutions.

Denizard says AFRICA LEAD, a United States Agency for International Development, USAID funded project  has trained forty five senior and mid level Agriculture professionals from Liberia who are currently working in government, private sector, civil society and in research organizations.

Denizard says the aim of training these professionals is to empower them to take up leadership roles to bring about transformation in agriculture in Liberia.

“We call it the champions for change Leadership Training and forty-five Liberians have gone to Ghana for this regional training. We will be recruiting another fifty-five Liberians to participate in the program,” said Denizard.

The Africa lead Deputy Chief of Party says the organization’s involvement with the recent agricultural fair at the CUC was intended to help in implementing the Fair and make recommendations on how it can be improved in the future.

Denizard said that some staff from CUC will have the opportunity to travel to learn from and participate in other bigger agriculture shows on the continent so they can learn best practices in agriculture show implementation and apply that knowledge and replicate it in Liberia in the future.

The United States Ambassador to Liberia, Ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield who also attended the program says agriculture is the key to Liberia’s future as it relates to food security.

“A nation that can feed itself is a nation that will survive, a nation that can feed itself is a nation with a future,” says Ambassador Greenfield.

The U.S diplomat and the new Country Director for USAID Patricia Radar during a session with the AFRICA LEAD team thanked the group for briefing the U.S Embassy on their activities.

Ambassador Greenfield also said successful farmers are successful business people but the issue of loan is a major issue as people who take loans from the banks to engage in small business do not want to pay back on those loans.

Country Director Radar says she will be keeping up with the team on how those who are trained by AFRICA LEAD are impacting Liberia from the training they acquire.

 The AFRICA LEAD Team from Ghana made up of Ms. Carla Denizard and Dr John Azu visited Liberia last month during the visit the team conducted an assessment of the Agriculture Fair held under the auspices of the Cuttington University in Suakoko Bong County.

Speaking Out

Liberia’s Working Women Plagued by Sexual Assault and Harassment

Vera was working for an NGO when a supervisor made sexual advances while the two were in his office. She remembers worrying she would not be strong enough to push him away.

“He asked me to stand up and said ‘Kiss me’. I said no, then I tried to get up. He pulled me to him and tried to lift up my blouse,“ Vera says. “I remember pulling my blouse down and I remember physical strength from him,” she says.

Years later, sitting at a desk at her own small, private clinic, Vera, now in her 30s, says her boss’s behavior shocked her at the time. “I got real mad and I just left the office. When I went home I was so mad I didn’t even want to come back to work. I sat down and I said this thing is exploitation,” Vera says.

Nevertheless, she didn’t report the supervisor. She had already been harassed by two other male colleagues.  “It happened in a way there was nobody to report to,” Vera says.

Sexual harassment in the workplace in Liberia is so common most women don’t bother reporting it according to the many working women FrontPage Africa interviewed for this story. Although it violates Liberian laws very few cases are ever brought for prosecution. But sexual harassment has a devastating impact on the women who are victims, making their working lives a living hell.

The victims’ names in this story have been changed because they are afraid of reprisals.

Kumba, a senior level executive at a media company in downtown Monrovia, says she has been harassed many times in her career. Because of her current high level position she says, men of all levels, including ministers, routinely expect her to have sex with them.

Clients have routinely asked Kumba to have sex with them in order to seal advertising deals. She says she has learned to tell clients in clear terms that she is not interested. “I don’t want you to put me on your menu, I want you to look at the proposal that is in front of you to view and deal with it,” she says.

Kumba believes qualification for the job should be the most important bargaining chip.  “It’s always like what you get is going to be based on what you’re going to be delivering and I was like, ‘No, I’m not on the menu so how you’re going to do that?” she said.

Amazingly not all the harassment has been by men. Last year Kumba received sexually explicit text messages from two people she later discovered were female employees. Kumba says sexual harassment is so ingrained as a way to attack women in the workplace even disgruntled women use the tactic.

Kumba let the women know she knew what they had done but did not dismiss them. She says she preferred to have them stay on and hopefully learn a lesson from that.

But not every woman is able to take Kumba’s tough position. Many women FrontPage spoke with had to endure the harassment at great personal suffering.

Vera says after she warned the man who harassed her but had to continued working with the organization. As soon as she could get the finances together she left to set up her own clinic.

In Liberia there are no laws prohibiting sexual harassment but there is currently a draft Ministry of Labor-sponsored Decent Work Bill before the national legislature that would outlaw harassment at work. In many countries, including the United States and most of Europe, harassment is immediate grounds for termination. The first sex harassment case in the US was brought in 1974 by a woman who said a manager at the bank where she worked demanded sexual favors in exchange for a promotion. Since then lawmakers and business owners have gone to great lengths to stamp harassment out, believing harassment prevents women being as productive as they could be. Harassment is rarely tolerated in American workplaces.

The Liberian legislature is considering the bill as a way to comply with standards of the United Nations’ International Labor Organization. The ILO defines sex harassment as a prohibited form of sex discrimination.

A highly publicized sexual harassment case two years ago put the issue at the center of public debate. Mrs. Ruth Yeaher, an employee of the General Auditing Commission, alleged that her boss, the former Auditor General John Morlu, made sexual advances in text messages and phone calls throughout the course of the three years they worked together.

She claimed her indefinite suspension by the Auditor General was due to her refusal to give in to his romantic requests.

Yeaher’s case was thrown out of court because of a lack of evidence. She was later slammed with a $1.5 million defamation lawsuit by Morlu, but the trial of the case was never concluded.

The Yeaher case scared many women who have been harassed from reporting it, according to Counselor Deweh Gray, a commissioner in the Law Reform Commission, a body established by the Accra peace accords in 2003 to promote good governance.

“A lot of times because of the stigma associated with it people tend to shy away from it. Some might decide to live with it in silence,” Gray says. “People still don't feel protected enough to want to start to open a Pandora's Box.”

Gray believes the passage of the Decent Work Bill might encourage more women to come forward.

“Once it comes out, and the provisions are there, people have to test the system,” she says. “People who feel violated can come forth and test the system to see if the system works.”

But women like Kumba say the bill will do little to help them. They say it will take a long time for people’s attitudes to change. Until then they just have to endure harassment. She believes the best defense is total rejection.

“I think if more women said no, I don’t care what you’re offering me. I’m not going to compromise my integrity to say the least, then maybe they will realize that it is not working,” she says.

BLEAK FUTURE

Poor performances may cost re-election thirsty lawmakers

Julius Kanubah, FPA Legislative Correspondent, julius.kanubah@frontpageafricaonline.com (+2316586240)

As the fight for political survival on Capitol Hill draws nearer, it is becoming clearer that a number of Legislators did not live up to expectations.

From lawmaking to constituency representation and oversight, a survey shows a dismal perform of lawmakers on Capitol Hill who are poised to go for re-election.

With the October/November Presidential, Legislative and general elections now becoming a matter of debate and prediction for many Liberians, it seems a political tsunami is imminent on Capitol Hill.

In this second analysis by the Legislative Bureau of frontpageafricaonline.com, results of investigative review of the performances, weaknesses and chances of re-election bound lawmakers are presented with a view to create public awareness among the decision makers of the Country who go to the polls this year.

Let’s begin with Montserrado County- where one seat is already vacant and up for grab because of poor performance.

DUSTY WOLOKOLIE

District # 4, Montserrado

PERFORMANCES: Known as a longtime social justice activist, Wolokolie has as his strength his public speaking on issues. Initially, he was an active debater in the House but now he has turned into a silent observer of proceedings. Besides his first outburst of legislators indirectly demanding money to pass a certain investment agreement where he was forced to apologize on his knees, Wolokolie is now remained a peripheral figure in the House with not much in lawmaking.

WEAKNESSES: Law drafting and the true representation of his people has been totally lacking. Wolokolie is a failure in terms of Representation of his people as he frankly admitted that he has failed his people in terms of representation and will not seek re-election 2011. His boldness was rare in Legislative and Liberian politics.

CHANCES: With his formal declaration of no re-election bid due to failure, Wolokolie is completely out! He created his own future and has seen his fate going ever bleak and so his seat is now vacant for grab.

GERALDINE DOE-SHERIFF

Junior Senator, Montserrado

PERFORMANCES: Elected in a tense bi-election to fill the vacant CDC seat left by the death of her partisan Hannah Brent, Doe-Sheriff has made her presence felt in the Senate. She arrived in the Senate with a radical bill to make corruption a non-bailable offense. Though, it is unconstitutional for a suspected corrupt official to be placed behind bars during trial on corruption charges, Doe-Sheriff got the support of the gullible few in the public who hate the word corruption. She has been a normal participant in debate though her thoughts are just sometimes disorganized.

WEAKNESSES: Doe-Sheriff has not been able to exert her full authority in the Senate as Chairperson of the masses driven opposition Congress for Democratic Change. Besides her controversial and radical anti-corruption bill, she is not found of any idea of another bill introduction. Her thoughts on issues are sometimes just awkward. She has allowed the rift in the CDC, particularly with rebel Representative Rufus Neufville to linger for too long; and it continues to distract her attention because she has refused to yield to pressure to resign as Chairperson of the CDC while also serving as a Senator. She has limited or just no time for both job!

CHANCES: With the CDC boasting of having control of the numbers in Montserrado, Doe-Sheriff stands a good chance of returning to the Senate though her chances could vanish given her rift with rebel Representative Rufus Neufville and the recent decision of the CDC to elect Winston Tubman over George Weah as standard bearer. Doe-Sheriff could experience a tough re-election battle as many grass-root CDCians are disenchanted over the deal.

EMMANUEL NUQUAY

District #1, Margibi

PERFORMANCES: Known as the Finance Minister of the House and trusted ally of Speaker Tyler, Nuquay has been a hardworking lawmaker. He is vocal in plenary and noted for influencing key decisions in the House with respect to ratification of huge investment agreements. Behind the scene, it is thought that he likes money to ensure strong performance. He has been a mark in his District where he has a micro-medium loan scheme coupled with a visible developmental mindset.

WEAKNESSES: Nuquay is a quiet operator and his critics say he accepts gossips at phase-value. He is not also balanced in his advocacy as he is sometimes selfish. A case in point has been, he advocated for a US$10, 000 budgetary allocation to undertake water evaluation studies in his District but when it came to the building of schools and expansion of roads in Kuku Dorbor’s District in Montserrado, he said it was not a necessity.

CHANCES: The re-election bid of Nuquay looks possible but he has to work overtime to control the Greater parts of Margibi where he is unpopular.

SORSOR JALLAH

District #2, Margibi

PERFORMANCES: After his victory in one of the tensed bi-elections in Margibi, Kollie Sorsor Jallah as a CDCian has not lived-up to expectations. He has been one of the non-active members of the House. He has not openly spoken in the House plenary because of fright and it now appears he is a bobo-lawmaker. He has no traceable bill in the House but only votes where the majority heads.

WEAKNESSES: Jallah has a speech barrier in public and is considered a bobo-lawmaker. He does not talk in session. He has not submitted any bill or written any letter to the House on issues of concern. His performance is just dismal. He’s not people centered as his own office staffers do criticized him for his meanness, according to reports. He has not much trace of developments in his District and is not outspoken.

CHANCES: With time running out, the chances of Sorsor Jallah return to the House are being numbered as he has failed to live up to expectations.

SAAR R. GBOLLIE:

District #3, Margibi

PERFORMANCES: As a former militant during the war years, Gbollie has impressed in the House. He is outspoken and hardworking. He has introduced several bills which have been legislated with the recent evidence of his legislation to ensure a drastic reform of the weak criminal justice system of Liberia with respect to the Corrections sector. He has initiated a small financial donation scheme in his District and has used his Legislative tactics to advocate for his people to benefit from the Firestone Concession agreement. With his District located in a concession area, Gbollie has not been too involved in physical development ventures but rather crying for his people.

WEAKNESSES: Gbollie is a controversial figure as his link to taking a US$5, 000 bribe in the campaign to remove former Speaker Snowe has continued to hunt him. He is thought to have signed a press statement confirming taking the money but later said it was not his signature. He even admitted to a secret voice recording provided by Snowe where he confirmed taking the US$5, 000 bribe but said, his voice was manipulated as the focus of discussion was on different issue. Gbollie is overly outspoken and very emotional. His tempers usually flare when things are not in his favor. He is usually found intimidating his political rivals for fear that they are threatening his re-election bid. He usually breaks his promises.

CHANCES: Gbollie has a 50% chance of re-election for now but his percentage point could either increase or decrease based on his behavior in these last coming Months of the Legislature.

BALLAH ZAYZAY

District #4, Margibi

PERFORMANCES: Zayzay swept a bi-election from the CDC before coming to the Legislature on the ticket of the Unity Party. He has been a non-active member of the House as he has not openly contributed to debate or influenced the plenary to take certain actions. He is considered as another bobo-lawmaker with no traceable bill to his credit. However, in his District, Zayzay is revered for his development and humanitarian efforts. He is credited for purchasing two thirty-two-seated buses to transport students in Margibi along with the renovation of schools.

WEAKNESSES: Given his low key participation in the House, Zayzay has been poor in the area of law making and exercising oversight. He has no visible Legislation to boast of.

CHANCES: With good rapport with his constituents, Zayzay has a huge chance for re-election.

HAJA FATA SIRYON

District #2, Bomi

PERFORMANCES: With respect to the cardinal responsibilities of a lawmaker, Siryon has been ineffective though she has at most regularly attended sessions. She is not expressive and has no appreciable submission of bills. However, she has been working to build market structures and roads in her district. She has also held meetings with the citizens.

WEAKNESSES: Siryon is a non-active member of the House. She can’t boast of submitting a bill or influencing key decisions in the House but rather she sits as a mere observer. Whenever she gets the bravery to speak in session, she sometimes goes emotional.

CHANCES: If taking development to the people and holding meetings with them on a regular basis will count, then Siryon has a good chance of re-election though she will continue to be a semi-bobo lawmaker.

TARNUE COOPER

District #3, Bomi

PERFORMANCES: A former social service worker, Cooper has been an occasional speaker in the House. He’s noted for pressing strongly for tougher actions against the disgraced former Superintendent of Bomi Mohamed Massaley on the basis of the misused of the County Development Funds. Cooper has no credit with bill submission and shifting decisions in the House. He has also not done much in his District with respect to development and remains inaccessible to his people.

WEAKNESSES: An occasional participant in the House debate, Cooper is invisible to his people and has not much practical development to his glory.

CHANCES: Cooper seems not to be having a clear chance of re-election as he is not loved by his people any longer.

RICHARD DEVINE

Junior Senator, Bomi

PERFORMANCES: Once an indictee of economic crimes charges, Devine has been working in the Senate and contributing to key debates. He has helped to discuss and provide analysis for the Senate on financial matters. Devine is said to be working hard in his County to ensure re-election as he presently resides with his people in Bomi.

WEAKNESSES: Devine looks playful in session and is usually found not serious but rather jovial. He is not also forceful.

CHANCES: There is no clear cut chance for the re-election bid of Devine.

GBONDOJEVER QUIAH

District #1, Gbarpolu

PERFORMANCES: Quiah has been a disgraced to the National Legislature as his performances are too dismal to count. He has failed completely in the areas of lawmaking, oversight and constituency representation. He has no visible bill for Legislation and is regarded as a bobo-lawmaker. He is in fact a drunkard as he once confirmed in an interview that he takes in small alcohol. Quiah has failed to meet his people and is very inaccessible.

CHANCES: Unless by God’s divine intervention or supernatural help, Quiah stands no chance of re-election. It’s no return for this failed lawmaker!

ARMAH SARNOR

District #2, Gbarpolu

PERFORMANCES: Known as the Chief Justice of the House, Sarnor has done well in the areas of lawmaking, oversight and constituency representation. He has also been holding meetings with his people about actions taken by the Legislature and government.

WEAKNESSES: Once indicted of taking bribe to remove former Speaker Snowe, Sarnor remains a quiet operator that is not trusted by his colleagues. He failed in his bid for the House Speakership after backing-off. He is also inconsistent with his political life as he has left the Liberty Party to seek gravy in the Unity Party.

CHANCES: Sarnor has to work hard if he is to win re-election because his sister is thought to be a strong contender like he defeated his older brother during the 2005 elections. His defeated brother has reportedly vowed to work with his sister to ensure the defeat of Sarnor. He may also face a problem in the Unity Party where a primary will take place.

DICKSON YARSIAH

District #3, Gbarpolu

PERFORMANCES: Yarsiah is considered the American talking man in the House and has been a regular participant in debates with his adapted but failed American way of speaking. He has been effective in the House and even in his district where he has done well in the infrastructure building of his District. He also pays visits to his people with sound representation.

WEAKNESSES: Yarsiah has not been balanced in his decision making process as he usually sides with his political interest with the Unity Party of President Sirleaf. He sometimes flops in speaking with his blind eyes on issues.

CHANCES: He is thought to have a 50-50% chance of re-election but the tides look in his favor for now.

DANIEL NAATEHN

Junior Senator, Gbarpolu

PERFORMANCES: Naatehn has been a key member of the Senate as he chairs the Executive Committee. He is a regular debater on issues of national concerns and has been effective in lawmaking, oversight and representation. He is a silent floor fighter and a known Senator that formed part of the plot to remove former Pro Temp Isaac Nyenabo.

WEAKNESSES: Naatehn is not nationalistic at times on issues because of his Unity Party affiliation as he seeks to overly protect President Sirleaf. His critics say he is not too opened to the public and is considered a mean Senator.

CHANCES: Naatehn faces a serious dilemma of re-election with the district politics in Gbarpolu. It is thought that the District from which he is from, has two lawmakers in the Legislature and while other Districts are not being represented at all.

SAYE-TALOR ADOLPHUS DOLO

Junior Senator, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Dolo has been a silent operator in the Senate with specialization in alliance building. Unless pushed to the wall, he does not comment on issues but is noted for raising contentious issues when he takes the stage. He has not much been involved in bill crafting though he provides oversight. He’s noted for regular visitations to Nimba with an eye on re-election.

WEAKNESSES: At office level, Dolo is inaccessible. He is also thought to be selfish and has no idea in law crafting. He’s emotional and fast to run out of control. He has allowed his unholy alliance with key members of the Senate including Pro Temp Wotorson and Senator Sumo Kupee to override his thought. Dolo is also in a dispute with Senator Prince Johnson as it relates to the Presidential bid of his senior Senator which he opposes in favor of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as part of his Constitutional rights.

CHANCES: With tribal politics at stake in Nimba where Prince Johnson is respected, Dolo’s chances of re-election look slim and time is now running out for him to unite with his senior Senator who has considerable support among his people.

NOHN KIDAU

District #4, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Kidau is one of the few females in the House that occasional contributes to debates. Her stumble in speaking at times makes her to be considered a semi-bobo-lawmaker but realistically when she takes the floor she tailors her points well. She has not much appreciable bill to her credit but is noted for advocating for increment in the budgetary allotment for the Ganta Hospital. At District level, Kidau has helped to the development drive of her constituency with focus on the building of a radio station and market structures.

WEAKNESSES: Kidau is not noted for bill submission. She’s also a non-regular contributor to debate in the House and has not built strong alliances with her colleagues.

CHANCES: With the controversial redistricting of electoral districts across the Country by the National Elections Commission, Kidau now faces a serious dilemma in her re-election bid as a portion of her current district where she has a huge support is to be transferred to another area at her expense. She has a 50% chance for now of re-election.

EDWIN GAYE

District #7, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Gaye is an active member of the House who participates in debates. He has to his credit the submission of several health bills. He also provides oversight and regularly visits his people. He was instrumental in luring government to the construction of the largest hospital in his District and perhaps in Nimba with the help of the Chinese government.

WEAKNESSES: Gaye stands criticized for not visiting his entire district and some of his people have taken him to task. He also has a bad-blood relationship with Senator Prince Johnson after he openly opposed the Presidential bid of the former rebel leader.

CHANCES: As a Unity Party lawmaker, Gaye stands a good chance of re-election but if the Prince Johnson factor plays in Nimba, his chances may decline to fair.

JACKSON FLINDOR:

District #5, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Not much has been heard of Flindor in the House and he is a non-essential member in debates and providing oversight. He is a bobo-lawmaker, meaning he does not talk in session unless by spare. Some of his people say he has not lived up to their expectations in the House. He has also not visited his entire constituency.

WEAKNESSES: Flindor is not known for bill submission and exercising oversight though he votes on issues. He is a quiet lawmaker and looks stage fright.

CHANCES: With the ongoing demarcation of districts in Nimba, Flindor is now in a difficult position as his chances are very slim.

FRANCIS KARWAY

District # 1, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Karway is another non-active member of the House though he attends sessions almost regularly. He is credited for taking President Sirleaf to his people as a boost to his relations with the people.

WEAKNESSES: Karway remains an unfamiliar lawmaker as he is not noted for contributing to debates and providing oversight.

CHANCES: With his ill-representation in the House, Karway has a 30-40% chance of re-election.

MARTIN FARNGALO

District #2, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Farngalo has been a regular figure in attending the plenary sessions of the House. He once spoke against the increment in the fees of private schools as Chair of the House Education Committee as the body mandated him to provide oversight. At District level, Farngalo is thought not to have adequately represented his people and nothing much can be heard of him.

WEAKNESSES: With no traceable submission of bills, Farngalo is considered a weak lawmaker as his oversight authority has only been exercised once with no impact. His critics say he has also failed to represent his people adequately.

CHANCES: The return of Farngalo on Capitol Hill looks difficult but he could find his way as no strong contender has emerged so far in his district.

WORLEA SAWAH-DUNAH

District #3, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Dunah has performed at the House level in the areas of lawmaking and oversight. He is not shy. He debates issues given his initial political orientation with the New DEAL Movement. At district level, Dunah is thought to have problem with some of his people as he is regarded as a mean lawmaker. He is credited for some development projects in his districts.

WEAKNESSES: With a perceived problem with some of his people, Dunah looks running out of touch. His level of meanness also counts against him.

CHANCES: The redistricting by the National Elections Commission may cause difficulty for Dunah who had some small chances of re-election. He could contest with his fellow Unity Party lawmaker Evans Koah at the primary, according to reports.

EVANS KOAH

District #6, Nimba

PERFORMANCES: Since winning a bi-election on the ticket of the Unity Party, Koah has been an active member of the House. He has contributed to debates and provided oversight. He was praised as a UP lawmaker for openly criticizing the extravagant spending of government with respect to vehicles purchase. At district level, Koah has an imbalance relationship with his people. Some have praised him for some mini projects while others remain critical.

WEAKNESSES: Koah is noted for being too party centered in debates. He is also thought to be mean to his people and has not much interacted with a significant amount of them.

CHANCES: As a Unity Party lawmaker, Koah has a slim chance for now. Also, he may experience a huddle if the redistricting by the elections commission pairs him with another sitting Unity Party lawmaker in person of Worlea Dunah. Koah and Dunah may fight for the UP ticket at the primary level and one could result going as an independent.

FRANKLIN SIAKOR

Junior Senator, Bong

PERFORMANCES: Siakor is a respected member of the Senate and is noted for driving debates with his soft speaking voice. He’s not shy but rather gives a critical position on issues during debate. At the Senate, he has not produced many bills for legislation. His people love him for the level of social development projects he has undertaken over the years.

WEAKNESSES: Critics say Siakor has been silent on the past misused of the County Development Funds of Bong County. He’s thought to have refrained himself from any talk on the corruption that characterized the used of the funds. By appearance, he lacks the personality and his soft-spoken tone even contributes to him being regarded as an easy going Senator. Siakor also stands accused of refusing to accept his colleagues’ offer of assuming the role of Senate President Pro Tempore during the heat of the leadership crisis of the body as many Senators saw him as a stabilizer. He’s noted for saying at then, he was not interested in the position of Pro Temp because the problems of Bong were huge than the Senate.  

CHANCES: With his earlier failed Presidential declaration and now a Vice Presidential running-mate to Charles Brumskine of the Liberty Party, the seat of Siakor is out for grab. If there is a change of mind, Siakor has a clear chance of returning to the Senate.

GEORGE MULBAH

District #4, Bong County

PERFORMANCES: Mulbah is noted for being one of the most outspoken and controversial members of the House. He contributes to almost all debates and is credited for submitting a number of bills for Legislation. He has helped to take development to his people with emphasis in renovation of schools and public buildings. Mulbah has good human relations with his citizens through his regular visitation.

WEAKNESSES: For almost every dubious transaction in the House and Bong County, Mulbah has been linked. He’s also thought to be emotional and highly money driven.

CHANCES: With Bong County set to benefit from the electoral Threshold Act, Mulbah has ensured one of the extra seats goes near his District where his key contenders will not battle him but their focus will be on the new district. For now, Mulbah has a good chance.

EDWIN JUAH

District #6, Bong County

PERFORMANCES: Juah is one of the respected and sound members of the House and his people can boast of him as a true representation in the Legislature. He was involved in efforts to draw government’s intervention to the army-worms invasion in his District sometimes ago. He is intelligent and coordinates his thoughts well in debates.

WEAKNESSES: Juah is thought to have poor relations with his people and critics say he looks insensitive to the development needs of his people. Juah is said not to be paying regular visits to his people.

CHANCES: Given his good representation at the level of the House, Juah is likely to win re-election if he works on his relations problem with his people.

ADAM BILL CORNEH

District #2, Bong County

PERFORMANCES: Corneh has been one of the most silent members of the House. Extremely dark in complexion, Corneh has hidden himself and his voice in his color. He does not contribute to debate and is not found providing oversight. He is however regular in session at most instances. He has no credit for bill submission. At District level, Corneh is praised for helping to create jobs for his people while engaging in development ventures like construction projects.

WEAKNESSES: Corneh stands accused by his critics of taking part in the death of a Commissioner in his District who was thought to be a contender to his re-election bid. He is also thought to have not covered his entire district in terms of visitation.

CHANCES: With his development drive, Corneh stands a better chance of re-election though his impact has not been felt on Capitol Hill.

SAMUEL BONDO

District #3, Bong County

PERFORMANCES: Bondo has been a disappointment in the House. He is noted for admitting to the media of taking a US$5, 000 bribe to remove Edwin Snowe as Speaker though he later said it was a monkey-wrench designed by Snowe. Bondo has turned into a speechless lawmaker and seemed a disgrace to his earlier practice in broadcast journalism. He has no credit of bill submission and exercising oversight. He has also betrayed his people in terms of representation because he does not relate to them any longer. Except for the building of two personal houses and a radio station, he lacks development programs and is a runaway member of the Liberty Party now with the ruling Unity Party.

WEAKNESSES: Stigmatized by the admittance of bribe taking in the House, Bondo is seen as not credible by his critics. He lacks development and has poor relations with his people.

CHANCES: Bondo’s chances look thin as he has lost grounds with his people and failed to show responsibility in the House.

CORPU BARCLAY

District #1, Bong County

PERFORMANCES: Barclay, as a female legislator is praised for her efforts in ensuring the passage of the Children Act which lingered at the Legislature for over a year. Besides that bill, she is not found participating in debates as she remains quiet and a mere observer of the House debate. On the District level, Barclay has undertaken development programs in her district through the help of development partners and government.

WEAKNESSES: Barclay is stage fright and can easily be confused when interrupted while talking. She is a non-essential member of the House with respect to debate and providing oversight. She is also thought to have failed to reconcile the youths and the people of her district.

CHANCES: The re-election bid of Madam Barclay looks slim as her opponents are gaining grounds.

NATHANIEL INNIS

Junior Senator, Grand Bassa

PERFORMANCES: Innis is noted for being active in the Senate. He is credited for submitting a number of bills with the latest on setting a minimum wage for laborers/workers. The bill though too late looks political. He stands accused of not taking development to his people in terms of structure construction.

WEAKNESSES: Known for abandoning his family to hang-out in the streets, Innis failed to ensure stability in his family till the sorrowful death of his wife amidst a divorce case at the Supreme Court. He is also thought to have whipped his niece severely but later said he was fooled by the devil. He is noted for developing poor relations with his family. He has also failed to unite the divided Grand Bassa Legislative Caucus which he chairs.

CHANCES: The re-election of Innis looks fair for now as he has a strong membership with the Liberty Party which controls Grand Bassa. 

SAMUEL PAGE

District #1, Grand Bassa

PERFORMANCES: Page is considered the Baptist preacher of the House. His debate on issues resembles a way of preaching by Baptist prelates, his colleagues say. He is an active member of the House who speaks issues as the need arises. He once represented the House at the lucrative ECOWAS Parliament where he apparently survived live bullets fire at his Five-Star-Hotel room as armed robbers were on a spree. He has not much been involved in the submission of bills though he sometimes provides oversight. At district level, he has opened a radio station with minimum development programs.

WEAKNESSES: Page is thought to have poor relations with some of his people due to his engagement with the ECOWAS Parliament over the years where he has been busy representing the House until he was removed recently.

CHANCES: With much of his time spent at the ECOWAS Parliament and poor human relations with some of his people, Page has a slim chance for now.

WILLIAM SANDY

Junior Senator, Grand Gedeh

PERFORMANCES: Sandy has been a frail and quiet lawmaker. He is regarded as the wisdom man of the Senate because of his parables which he usually equates to any subject of debate. Most of the times in the open session of the Senate, he does not speak for more than five minutes. He has no credit to submitting bills though he is almost regular in session and at times attends oversight functions with committees’ hearings. He has also helped with the provision of some construction materials to some of his kinsmen and contributed to the education drive of some Grand Gedeh students. He is also a regular visitor of his people.

WEAKNESSES: Due to his ailing condition or poor health, Sandy has been a weak Senator with no bill submission.

CHANCES: Despite his poor health, Sandy still has a chance for re-election as his strong contender is said to be his adopted son.

RUFUS GBIOER

District # 1, Grand Gedeh

PERFORMANCES: Once linked to the purchase of an alleged stolen vehicle from the United States, Gbioer has been an active member of the House. He contributes to debates and provides oversight but not much is credited to him in terms of bill submission. He has helped with the implementation of some projects in his district though his critics say he has no impact in the area. He is also not too popular in some areas of his district.

WEAKNESSES: His critics say his failure to explain to his constituents much about the county development funds which has been at the centered of alleged misused and abused by the Superintendent Chris Bailey is not going down well with the people. Gbieor also formed part at then of the group of lawmakers accused of taking US$5, 000 bribe to remove Edwin Snowe as Speaker.

CHANCES: There are some prospects for the re-election of Gbioer though he will face an uphill battle as his chances are said to be fading.

The analyses on the performance of individual lawmaker on Capitol Hill will continue with more details on another batch of Legislators who are headed to contesting for re-election.

The key questions will remain, have they performed to be trusted again with power or is it no return for the dismal performers.

Look out!