Don’t Confirm Them – Foreign ‘Employees’ beseech the Senate

12 May 2011

The employees of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, under the banner of “Concern Workers Association” have rejected the appointment of Ms. Angela Cassell-Bush as inspector general of the Foreign Service and the appointment of Mr. William Greaves, Jr. as assistant minister for European affairs, all of the Foreign Ministry.

The workers said they had cautioned President Sirleaf against appointing Madam Bush, whom they claimed, has undermined several ambassadors and officials of the ministry, resulting to the dismissal of over 50 employees at the Ministry during the administration of former Minister King Akerele.

“Besides, during the first interactive meeting with Minister Toga McIntosh Gayewea following his confirmation, we openly requested the Minister to have Madam Bush remove from the Ministry if the Ministry was to regain its status as the first line ministry of government but Minister Toga McIntosh greatly disappointed us,” the so-called concerned employees said.

The other reasons for the rejection of Ms Bush at the time, they said, was that she was “inexperienced and lacked the basic diplomatic training for the post”.

The employees said despite the fact that the President had ignored their pleas, they would not give up their opposition to Ms. Bush’s appointment.

“Let it be known that we will and will never cooperate either work with Madam Bush and will resist her confirmation for the post of inspector general for the  foreign service. We are calling on the members of the Liberian Senate not to confirm Madam Bush and Greaves, and appealing to the President to redraw their appointments,” they said.

Regarding Mr. William Greaves, the employees claimed that he was unfit for the post because he was “a high school dropout” who “holds no college or university degree”.

His appointment, the employees insisted, contradicted the government’s policy setting college education as requirement for holding ministerial positions. Besides, they claimed, the appointee as “a playboy”.

Up to press time last night, neither the accused persons nor Minister Gayewea was available for comment on the “Concerned Employees’” sweeping allegations.

AllAfrica – All the Time