By Tola
What a man can do a woman can do better; an age-old adage that has sparked off many a debate and several battles between the sexes. Never before has it been brought home though (especially in these parts) as with the recent action of Liberia’s first elected female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
In an unprecedented move, (I stand to be corrected) Madam President suspended 46 government officials for their failure to declare their assets. On a continent that generally aids and abets corruption as opposed to fighting it and one that specializes in providing ‘soft landings’ for corrupt government officials; this action in itself is huge.
It does not sound like mere window dressing either. According to reports they remain suspended until Madam President ‘receives confirmation from the Liberian Anti-corruption Commission that they have met the assets declaration requirements.’ And for good measure, before the suspended officials are reinstated they will have to pay the government an amount representing the value of their salaries and allowances for the period of suspension. (That should teach them not to waste government time!) Wow! She’s got balls of steel you’d say!
As if all of that wasn’t dramatic enough, her son, Charles Sirleaf the erstwhile Deputy Central Bank Governor was among the suspended.
The fact that she did not spare her own flesh and blood is laudable yes, especially when you consider how in Africa, political office holders in high positions tend to turn a blind eye when it comes to their relatives and cronies. But therein lays the paradox no?
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not one, but three of her sons in key government positions. One is the Deputy Governor of Liberia’s Central bank, one is chairing the board of the country’s National oil company and another one in is charge of security. I say Madam has it all locked down pretty tight! It is also reported that until recently one of the President’s brothers, Ambulai Johnson, was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, during the first term of the Unity Party led government, of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
One maybe, two is cutting it pretty close, but three?? As well as other relations in other key positions?? Nah! No matter how qualified they may be, that is nepotism right there. I’m sure you don’t have to look too closely to see several conflicts of interests. What does that prognosticate? That there are no other qualified people in all of Liberia?
But hey, guess what? Madam President gets no knocks from me. At least she has the courage to call her relatives out and carpet them when necessary. That’s more than I can say for our menfolk the majority of who carry on with impunity!
What a man can do a woman can do better; an age-old adage that has sparked off many a debate and several battles between the sexes. Never before has it been brought home though (especially in these parts) as with the recent action of Liberia’s first elected female President, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
In an unprecedented move, (I stand to be corrected) Madam President suspended 46 government officials for their failure to declare their assets. On a continent that generally aids and abets corruption as opposed to fighting it and one that specializes in providing ‘soft landings’ for corrupt government officials; this action in itself is huge.
It does not sound like mere window dressing either. According to reports they remain suspended until Madam President ‘receives confirmation from the Liberian Anti-corruption Commission that they have met the assets declaration requirements.’ And for good measure, before the suspended officials are reinstated they will have to pay the government an amount representing the value of their salaries and allowances for the period of suspension. (That should teach them not to waste government time!) Wow! She’s got balls of steel you’d say!
As if all of that wasn’t dramatic enough, her son, Charles Sirleaf the erstwhile Deputy Central Bank Governor was among the suspended.
The fact that she did not spare her own flesh and blood is laudable yes, especially when you consider how in Africa, political office holders in high positions tend to turn a blind eye when it comes to their relatives and cronies. But therein lays the paradox no?
President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has not one, but three of her sons in key government positions. One is the Deputy Governor of Liberia’s Central bank, one is chairing the board of the country’s National oil company and another one in is charge of security. I say Madam has it all locked down pretty tight! It is also reported that until recently one of the President’s brothers, Ambulai Johnson, was appointed Minister of Internal Affairs, during the first term of the Unity Party led government, of President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
One maybe, two is cutting it pretty close, but three?? As well as other relations in other key positions?? Nah! No matter how qualified they may be, that is nepotism right there. I’m sure you don’t have to look too closely to see several conflicts of interests. What does that prognosticate? That there are no other qualified people in all of Liberia?
But hey, guess what? Madam President gets no knocks from me. At least she has the courage to call her relatives out and carpet them when necessary. That’s more than I can say for our menfolk the majority of who carry on with impunity!
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