Africa-Press – Liberia. Some concerned citizens of Grand Gedeh County in the Diaspora have express disappointment for the confirmation of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant by the Liberian Senate as Superintendent of their County, Grand Gedeh.
The Diaspora Grand Gedeans said the confirmation and subsequent appointment of Mr. Grant is undoubtedly a contradiction of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s pledge to nominate and appoint men and women of integrity in his administration.
A statement signed by the Chairman of the Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in the Diaspora over the weekend, stated that Mr. Grant was confirmed and subsequently appointed in spite the overwhelming and easily verifiable evidence provided to the President and the Liberian Senate documenting his lack of moral authority and integrity pervasive allegations in the county of his complicity in various dubious activities and his polarizing history.
Mr. William G. Nyanue said Mr. Grant even confirmed his lack of integrity during his confirmation hearing when he denied, under oath, being expelled from the University of Liberia because of his fraudulent academic record, something which was common knowledge to many of the Senators who confirmed him.
Mr. Nyanue said such acts should disqualify anyone from holding a leadership position in a serious democracy where track record and performance count for something but in spite all of this the President’s letter appointing him actually said Mr. Grant was being appointed based on his “ability, integrity and wealth of experience.
He said it is a sad time not just for the people of Grand Gedeh County but also for the future of democracy and governance in Liberia.
Mr. Nyanue said they advise the President, the Liberian Senate and other relevant government officials that Mr. Grant was the wrong choice to serve as Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County but they were never listen to.
“On Friday, February 23, 2024, the Concerned Citizens of Grand Gedeh County residing in the Diaspora, sent a petition to President Boakai, respectfully pleading with him to withdraw the nomination of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant as superintendent of Grand Gedeh County.
That petition contained easily verifiable, objective and grave reasons why we thought and believe that Mr. Grant was not suitable to be the county’s superintendent.”
The Chairman of the Concerned Citizens of Grand Gedeh County residing in the Diaspora said they cannot decipher a rational explanation for Mr. Grant’s confirmation, in view of the overwhelming information provided to the President and the Liberian Senate, and the passionate pleas of the people of the County and their Elders.
He said Grant’s track record, which is public information, clearly disqualifies him but sadly, all the information and effort were simply ignored.
Chairman Nyanue said while the President was given appointing powers by the Liberian constitution, the exercise of that power in a democracy requires that it be circumscribed by certain considerations, not just evidence of the appointee’s ability and loyalty but also evidence of his/her integrity and moral authority, and, in the case of a Superintendent, commitment to the welfare of the people he/she is to serve as expressed by their wishes.
He said they believes the President and the Liberian Senate rewarded bad behavior and blatant disregard for honesty and integrity.
“They may have just created a powder keg in Grand Gedeh County, and they must bear full responsibility if it explodes. But this issue is much bigger than the superintendency of Grand Gedeh County. The confirmation of Mr. Grant in the face of incontrovertible information about his unsuitability for the County’s leadership is a statement to the country that, as in time past, Liberia’s leaders, including the President, continue to decouple qualifications for leadership completely from everything that undergirds effective leadership, including moral authority, integrity, honesty, laudable performance history, and respect for the wishes of the people.”
He went on to say that the decision confirms that Liberia’s historical governance model, which enables Liberian governing authority in Monrovia to simply impose its decisions upon the people of the hinterland, with complete disregard to their wishes and needs, is as much alive today as it was in yesteryears, all the rhetoric about a new Liberia notwithstanding.
He said Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in the Diaspora, will not allow this practice that has been so detrimental to the wellbeing of their people, but also to all Liberians and their democracy, to continue to go unquestioned.
The Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in the Diaspora are therefore calling on Grand Gedeans everywhere and their Elders to join them in continuing to peacefully petition the Government to now replace Mr. Grant, because they believe that his track record disqualifies him to serve as Superintendent of Grand Gedeh County and his confirmation notwithstanding.
Mr. Nyanue said Mr. Grant superintendency of Grand Gedeh County would be a powder keg waiting to explode.
The Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in the Diaspora thanked Senator Thomas Yaya Nimely, Chairman of the Grand Gedeh County Legislative Caucus, and the other eight senators who voted against Mr. Grant’s confirmation and said that they demonstrated that one’s track record and history count for something in a democracy, and that is a good thing for Liberia’s fledgling democracy.
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