Cabinet Campaign Machine Sparks Protests

New Democrat (Monrovia)

6 June 2011

Several opposition figures and civil society leaders are protesting the President’s cabinet packed presidential campaign committee, contending that it represents the misuse of public office with the difference between public resources and private ones being blurred.

The president last week unveiled her campaign machine comprising several cabinet ministers and others in charge of state coffers, including Finance Minister Augustine Ngafuan, Public Works Minister Samuel Kofi Woods, head of National Security and Welfare Corporation Francis Carbah, the controversial Minister of Gender and Development Varbah Gayflor recently indicated in an audit report, church and defecting opposition figures.

Dr. Togba Nah Tipoteh of the MOJA-Party said the campaign team reflects conflict of interest, since these individuals, paid via taxpayers’ and public resources, will be using public time to campaign for a political party. He said they should resign their positions to devote time to their party.

He said, in a statement: “The nature of composition of the UP Campaign Team begs the question of the use of taxpayers’ money for private benefit. This question is of particular significance in a corrupt environment characterized essentially by state-led corruption. In the face of what happened in the road opening at Belle Yalla, the Capitol Building and the July 26th Nimba Celebrations, the tours around the Country by the president is illegal campaigning, as gifts of food, sports stadia, sports equipment and outfits are given out while many people are viewing public projects as being made possible only through the President’s initiatives.

“What goes unnoticed is the financing of these campaign gifts, like the stadium in the Borough of Krutown by foreigners like Sethi and Jetty Brothers. The blatant conflict of interest situation where the Chairman of the Unity Party is legal counsel for many of the biggest companies in Liberia is also instructive for gaining lessons on foreign intervention in Liberian politics.

“In this corruption environment that thrives on impunity through the violations of the law, the presence of high government officials on the Unity Party Campaign Team actively campaigning while in public office and using taxpayers money compliments the president’s illegal campaigning and renders the entire election process non-credible and therefore erosive.

“God bless us, God save us, as the state repeats the same mistakes of the past.”

Former chair of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) now a private lawyer and civil society activists, Cllr. Jerome Verdier, said the decision undermines the country’s nascent democracy. He described the action as one laden with impunity and said those named should resign their public positions.

The Liberty Party, in its press release, described the decision as “sad” but “not surprising.”

“Noteworthy and sad, but perhaps not surprising, the party has tapped to its campaign management team several ministers of government currently actively serving in their respective posts. There was no corresponding announcement that these individuals have resigned or are taking leaves of absence to do political work,” the Liberty Party said.

It said the government lacks “the judgment or its cuddling of corruption is such an integral part of its DNA that it cannot function but in a corrupt manner and at the highest level.

“To Ministers Woods, Sulonteh, Ngafuan, Gayflor, and Konneh, we know it may be hard for you to admit that you serve a dishonorable government. The question to you is, are you willing to dishonor yourselves? If you wish to serve your Unity Party as its campaign managers, why don’t you resign or take leaves of absence and allow someone else who can devote all of their time and effort to the people’s business and the business of government to fill that void. Let the Unity Party pay you; provide your per diem and your vehicle. It would be immoral and criminal to feed at the public trough and work for a campaign which all of the public does not want nor from which they do not benefit.”

Nimba County senator Prince Johnson’s National Union for Democratic Progress (NUDP), in its press release, said it “applauds” the President “for putting together a 38 Member Campaign Team compromising the most corrupt people in Liberia.”

Mr. Johnson claimed that the campaign team demonstrates the President’s “willingness to use taxpayers’ resources for campaign at the disadvantaged of Liberian taxpayers.”

The NUDP said this is “unacceptable” labeling it as a “flagrant disregard for the proper use of taxpayers’ resources is putting Liberia’s nascent democracy at a greater risk of a free fall.”

It called on “all political appointees on the campaign team “to immediately resign their position in Government,” adding that this is “a clear abuse of public office and misuse of public money…”

The Congress for Democratic Change’s CDC’s Secretary General, Acarius Gray said the appointments indicate “the insincerity of President Sirleaf to fight corruption in the country.”

He said one cannot expect the ministers “to do the Liberian people’s work and at the same time be campaigners for Unity Party.

Efforts to get UP officials for comments were unsuccessful despite several attempts. Minister Ngafuan did not respond to phone calls.

The election laws are however silent on cabinet ministers serving on political campaign teams and fluid on the use of state property such as vehicles and infrastructure for political campaigns.

The use of state property and paraphernalia for incumbents is traditional in Liberia, and the draft code of conduct, which the government has failed to pass, would have defined the limits by barring cabinet officials and other state officials from campaign activities, during which they use state time and resources.

On the president’s campaign team are also many of her past critics drawn from retired football star George Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change, after they defected to the president’s Unity Party.

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