Liberia: We Are All Ex-Combatants!

I have been reading several Facebook posts and comments directed at Prof. Alhaji G.V. Kromah, who died recently after a protracted illness. I want to extend my deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and relatives of late Professor Kromah. May Allah forgive his sins.

Professor Kromah’s Death

I believe it’s morally unacceptable to fight or mock the dead. The point is, they have vanished your presence and will never be a hindrance to your success anymore. Granted, he was an active participant of the bloody crisis, and caused the death of several persons, but I am constrained to reflect on the excruciating pains and circumstances that prompted a renowned university professor to make a tactical move and lead a a notorious warring faction in self-defense of his people. Was it constitutionally correct; I say a resounding no. Nevertheless, and as a critical thinker, one would surmise that the prevailing circumstances during that period might have caused him to stand up and fight.

As a direct victim of the war, I vividly witnessed how certain tribes were slaughtered in my presence by some individuals. I still live with that trauma and no longer eat any animal that’s slaughtered in my presence. I need help, because I have been dealing with it since I was 12. You know those Killers; yet you still celebrate them today. I am sure if those who were slaughtered had the power to revenge, they would have stood up firmly and fight brutally, because self-preservation is a moral necessity anywhere. Those who were once humbled became killers, and those who were grooming leaders in the classrooms led faction groups in self-defense, because their lives were in danger. These actions are condemnable, and do not represent that of a civilized society or a professional. As such, we need to disarm our hearts.

Technically speaking, we are ALL excombants, and some how, we murdered people with our demonic prayers, pens, microphones, etc. Some of you, including our parents, and relatives wrote detrimental articles in newspapers that sparked anger in people to kill. Their actions incited violence that killed hundreds of people.


Some use their radio stations to incite and cause others to be hunted and killed. These were the intellectual Ex-combatants. They, too, fought the war with their pens and microphones and caused others to die.

Others were in churches and mosques offering prayers against their brothers and sisters in different faction groups. When there was news of murder in those faction controlled areas, they celebrated and shouted “hallelujah “ instead of weeping. They are religious Ex-combatants. If you were a kid by then, but have now grown to be an adult, the categorization might not be applicable to you, but your relatives, friends, or parents, who I described in the categories above.

Regretfully, we only look at those who were physically seen carrying guns. It’s important to reflect on the veracity of truth owing to the circumstances that plunged Liberia into a bloody civil war.
I would have loved for Professor Kromah to face justice , something he promised he would do.

The Hypocrisy

We have forgotten that Professor Kromah taught thousands of people and impacted many lives at the University of Liberia. Why are we not remembering him for the lives he impacted? Ironically, the same people who I see celebrating his demise are KEY SUPPORTERS of living and arrogant warlords, who are still enslaving our people in abject povety.

Former President Sirleaf was the chief financier of the bloody civil war. But, those mocking Prof. Kromah were physically seen on the streets of Monrovia heavily campaigning for her in 2005 and 2011. They elected her twice, but they didn’t know she was the mastermind of the bloody civil crisis. If we mean business in Liberia, and want IMPARTIAL JUSTICE, we need to take off our caps of hypocrisy and speak out with the audacity of truth in our voice. Also, if you want to be respected in society while you are alive or when you are dead, it’s important to live a dignified life. Be humble, and treat people with respect and dignity. Hurt no one, and reject an offer of hatred. Your family will be extremely embarrassed by public laughter when you get sick or God takes you for “safe-keeping”.

We will never restore Liberia’s lost dignity, renew its lost hopes, and unify the country with hypocrisy. I, therefore, plead with everyone to allow the dead to rest. Please!