Commentary

Just When You Thought All Was Lost!

We can all point to experiences in life that move us or simply leave a wonderful sense of fulfillment afterwards. I had one of such experiences last Saturday when I was asked to be a trainer-facilitator for a session for the President's Young Professionals Program (PYP). The PYP, launched in August 2009, is a national training, mentorship and capacity development strategy being coordinated in collaboration with the Civil Service Agency (CSA), with funding and technical assistance from donors. It is part of the President's goal of building what her people call a 'strong and responsive workforce'.
The program identifies young Liberian professionals who graduated from colleges and universities in Liberia for professional development and public service. PYP targets local young professionals living in Liberia unlike its sister program, the Scott Family Fellows, which targets professional Liberians and non-Liberians from the Diaspora.
My assigned training topic was 'Writing Effective Proposals' for funders and donors. From the moment I entered the training room, I was impressed with the participants. I was instantly reminded that as long as we continue to invest in the young people, and especially encourage those with potential to be leaders, we are on to something big. Actually, I was sold on the concept before I even arrived at the training.

Taking Gov't to the People

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, along with members of her Cabinet, set out on Saturday, February 27, 2010 for a week-long visit to southeastern Liberia, an area which, like most parts of the country, is slowly recovering from its share of the 14-year civil conflict. But unlike other parts of the country, which are more accessible by road, reconstruction, though noticeable, faces a greater challenge. It is no wonder that there is high anticipation and expectations when the leader of the nation leaves the relative comfort of the capital city, Monrovia, to tour the rural parts of the country.
The visit began in Maryland County, with the induction of the first president of the newly established Tubman University, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell. The occasion marked a turning point in the President's determination to decentralize the educational programs of Government. The University will serve as the hub for students in the southeast seeking university education. But more importantly, the University offers courses which are at the heart of Government's recovery program. It is a factor which did not escape the attention of the Liberian leader when she spoke at the convocation.

Presidential Proclamation - Women's History Month

Countless women have steered the course of our history, and their stories are ones of steadfast determination. From reaching for the ballot box to breaking barriers on athletic fields and battlefields, American women have stood resolute in the face of adversity and overcome obstacles to realize their full measure of success. Women's History Month is an opportunity for us to recognize the contributions women have made to our Nation, and to honor those who blazed trails for women's empowerment and equality.
Women from all walks of life have improved their communities and our Nation. Sylvia Mendez and her family stood up for her right to an education and catalyzed the desegregation of our schools. Starting as a caseworker in city government, Dr. Dorothy Height has dedicated her life to building a more just society. One of our young heroes, Caroline Moore, contributed to advances in astronomy by discovering a supernova at age 14.

Our Subscription To The Social Contract Alone Legitimizes The Constitution

(To those of our readers who expected to find in this column, a continuation of our “Countdown to April 12, 1980, we apologize for the disappointment; a few legal issues raised by this column required some timely response to avoid becoming outdated. Later this week, (on Friday) “The Punch” continues with our “Countdown to April 12, 1980.” Thanks for the interest and support. Bear with us---and stay with us!)

Can Affirmative Action Work in Liberia?

In my March 1, 2010 article entitled, “Where are the jobs?”, I concluded by introducing the passage of an affirmative action law that would require international donor-sponsored missions to set aside 30 percent of their businesses for Liberians. This article is intended to discuss affirmative action in more detail in terms of how it works, who has benefited and where. This discussion would enable you the reader to judge for yourself if affirmative action can work in Liberia.

Carpe Diem

There has not been much for Liberian football fans to smile about over the past eight years. Liberian sports, especially football, are still reeling from the fallout of the country’s failure to qualify for Japan-Korea in 2002. The failure to qualify for the World Cup extinguished life out of football in a country that produced one of the game’s greatest legends in the person of George Weah.

Where Are the Jobs?

While walking to the offices of the Daily Observer on Sunday, February 21, I saw a group of students from the baccalaureate service of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU). I asked one of the graduates how many students graduated, and he said 287. It dawned on me that just a few months ago, 535 students had graduated from the AMEU and some 1,000 plus students from the University of Liberia (UL). Then I asked myself, “Where are the jobs?”

Poverty Strategy: Have Strategies Made Impact on the Poor?

Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSP) contain a country’s macroeconomic, structural and social policies, as well as programs to promote growth and reduce poverty. The end game of strategy papers is to turn academic literature into an actionable mission and to get real results that can be measured by the target beneficiary – the poor. The litmus test, if the strategy papers have the target poor in the ‘center’, is bound to get a significant reduction of poverty for the poor to notice.

The Hypocrisy of the Opposition

Liberia’s political opposition parties are forging a marriage of convenience against the one person they love to detest the most – President Sirleaf. Understandably, she stands in the way of their political ambitions – a seat in the Executive Mansion. This narrow political focus (the presidency), combined with growing public discontent with public corruption, has certainly influenced the opposition’s anti-corruption platform.

Liberians, We Must Not Sell Our Birthright for a Bag of Rice

It is written in the Bible in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3:1: “To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven”, and it continues to list every purpose and season pertinent to man and life. For the last 30 years the Lord has molded me and anointed me for this time to speak to all Liberians concerning our inheritance given to us by Lord God Almighty.

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