Liberia News: Crack Down On Dissent Or Scare Tactics

-Liberians Speak of Wave Of Dismissals In Recent Times

Liberia-Liberians are expressing apprehension in the wake of blitz of dismissals of Liberians from their respective positions, saying such move only sheds light on an apparent iron-fist policy quietly being nurtured by the government towards dissents and criticisms.

 

Liberia-Liberians are expressing apprehension in the wake of blitz of dismissals of Liberians from their respective positions, saying such move only sheds light on an apparent iron-fist policy quietly being nurtured by the government towards dissents and criticisms.

They also wonder if it is an employed tactic to scare citizens from speaking out or critiquing the government on policy issues or things that matter to them and the wellbeing of the country.

Recall that some citizens have lost their jobs in the last past week for reasons the government or their employers termed administrative reasons incompatible with stipulated rules, policies and standards.

Most of those affected were in the employ of government or government related institutions such as the Ministry of Labour, National Security Agency, and the Liberia Broadcasting System, and the Liberia National Police.

President Joseph Nyuma Boakai initiated the dismissal action by getting rid of Nesco Aleo Wolo, National Security Agency (NSA) Deputy Director for Operations, citing administrative reasons.

The Executive Mansion quoted the President as saying the decision is part of ongoing effort to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of Liberia’s national security apparatus.

The President’s action, however, followed the funeral of the late Senator Prince Johnson in Nimba County where Wolo paid a heartwarming tribute on behalf of the Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (MDR) founded by the deceased Senator.

Just as others who paid tribute, Wolo recalled the late Senator’s role in the country’s political and historical landscape, stating also that Senator Johnson’s death was attributable to the government’s decision to establish a war and economic crimes court in Liberia to try individuals deemed to have played pivotal roles in the years of conflict that ruined the country.

The late Johnson played significant part in the war as leader of the Independent National Patriotic Front of Liberia (INPFL), a breakaway faction of the National Patriotic Front of Liberia (NPFL) that began the war against the Samuel Doe government in 1989.

His dismissal took many Liberians by surprise and even tied the president’s action to Wolo’s criticism of the government for partly being responsible for the death of Senator Johnson.

Johnson, nicknamed kings maker, helped President Boakai and his Unity Party won the elections by winning Nimba County, a vote rich county, during the 2023 elections.

“When did the President get to know that Wolo was a member of the MDR, a partisan of a political party? How did he appoint him to the NSA without doing a pensive profiling of him?”

Mr. Charles Nugba pondered, and said the President action only explained a wider plan to go after dissenting views, or opposition partisans working in the rank and file of the government.

While the dust caused by Wolo’s ill-fitted dismissal was settling, another Liberian became a target of dismissal at the Ministry of Labour for apparent political reasons.

Czar M. Palay, youth chairman of the MDR, has also been dismissed at the Ministry of Labour. Prior to the termination of his services, he served as director of health and occupational safety at the Ministry which is headed by the Chairman of the MDR, one of the parties that allied with the UP during the elections against former President George Weah.

He was instructed to turn over property of the ministry in his possession to the human resource department.

It also believed that Palay’s sacking is fulcrumed on his criticism of the President and the Unity Party during the late Senator Johnson’s funeral held on January 18 in Ganta.

Similar apparent anti-dissent dismissal has affected Joseph Sayon, President of the Workers Union of the Liberia Broadcasting System where Director General Eugene Fahngon is accused of toxic and draconian administrative practices including threatening employees, unjustifiable dismissal, unilateral increase of his daily allowance.

Sayon has been vocal over the past days in highlighting the deficiencies at the national broadcaster in a bit to draw the attention of the President and the Boards of Director headed by Information Minister, Jerolimick Piah.

Fahngon’s leadership style, according to Sayon is unconventional and asymmetrical to acceptable administrative norms and policies, and more poses serious threats to wellbeing of the national radio station.

Mr. Fahngon has since reacted, clarifying and denying some of Sayon’s claims as sheer witch-hunt intended to stain his character and undermine his administration.

But he went on to dismiss Sayon much to the disapproval of some of his deputies, including other media umbrellas such as the Press Union of Liberia and many others.

They have called for Sayon’s reinstatement and even urged President Boakai to intervene in the situation by getting rid of Fahngon who has lost the confidence and trust of the public as well as employees of LBS.

Many believe these dismissal actions represent a government iron-fist policy against people deemed to have posed threats to the sanctity of the governance system as well as President Boakai “no business usual” policy.

Musa Kanneh, former Secretary of the Press Union of Liberia, writing on his Facebook page took swipe at the LBS dismissal of Sayon, and called for the reinstatement of Sayon.

“I am disappointed in the decision of the Director General of LBS Eugene Fahngon to dismiss the President of the Workers Union, Joseph Sayon in contraventions of our law,” the ex-PUL Secretary, now an Attorney-at-Law said.

“We must not allow this situation to undermine the functions, visions and missions of the entity,” Kanneh further said, while also thanking Fahngon’s deputies who opposed his decision to dismiss Sayon.

Other Liberians say the dismissals are worrisome and also shed light on what appears to be iron-fist policy adopted by the government against dissenting voices.

“Dismissing people from their positions for political reasons is a classic betrayal of the government professed rescue mission, to provide good livelihood for Liberians,” said Mr. Nugba.

He said the action is reminiscent of the authoritarian regimes of former Presidents Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor when people could not speak freely on national issues, let alone criticizing the administrations.

According to him, President Boakai did not come to power to drive Liberia through harrowing days, but rather initiate policies that favor the betterment of the society and wellbeing of citizens, whether voted for him or not.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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