| By Emmanuel Abalo (September 12th 2005)
"...The current challenges of the local disregard for rule of law, graft and corruption, coupled with international terrorism loom threateningly before the struggling nation and must be tackled head-on. This will presuppose that the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government undergo a true “catharsis and sanitization“ and empowerment for purposes relevance and functionality.…..” |
The Liberian Presidential and Legislative elections slated for October,
2005
represent a major achievement and progress towards national and
regional
stability for a country brought to its knees by fourteen years of
naked,
factional and ethnic violence.
However, this attempt at a national transformation from a culture of
death,
impunity, hopelessness and corruption may disintegrate quite easily if
certain mechanisms are not implemented by Liberians themselves with the
help
of the international community. Thematically, the following reforms
would
form the bedrock for progress:
Preventing and ending conflicts nationally and regionally,
Ensuring economic development and reducing poverty and ensuring the
effectiveness ,
Transparency and integrity at all levels of the Government of Liberia.
And so with cautious optimism, we recommend a drastic and intrusive
reform
and implementation of the academic, judicial, economic and social
systems
with a view to maximizing available human and material resources for
the
common and general benefit of the people and reasonable integrity of
government.
Another recommendation is for a persuasive and credible national
leadership
to garner the commitment and support of all sectors of the Liberian
society
for the rebuilding of institutions and infrastructures necessary for
the
sustenance and functionality of government. In this regard, we
stipulate
that the University of Liberia and other national higher institutions
of
learning be partnered with, academically strengthened and spared no
funding
to ensure a sustained production of trained manpower to sustain these
institutions and programs. If this means, “importing” foreign
academicians
and scholars, at a price, to supplement the University and community
colleges’ faculties then perhaps it’s a good investment.
As a matter of
statistical fact, the greatest number of Liberians that ever had access
to
some form of formal education benefited during the late 1970’s - 1990.
This
trend must be regenerated Of Course there were several factors
responsible
including the desire of the ordinary Liberian to “know book” amidst
challenges and ensure a better future.
The current challenges of the local disregard for rule of law, graft
and
corruption, coupled with international terrorism loom threateningly
before
the struggling nation and must be tackled head-on. This will presuppose
that
the executive, legislative and judicial arms of government undergo a
true “catharsis and sanitization“ and empowerment for purposes relevance and
functionality. Without doubt, the conflict between the image of
government
since independence and Liberian values remains complicated and must be
reconciled.
This can be accomplished partly when government
institutionalizes the rule of law which protects individual rights and
basic
freedoms guaranteed in the Liberian constitution.
The new government must review international treaties and protocols to
which
it is a signatory with a view to positioning itself to compete and
benefit
from programs and partnerships that lend to the transition from a
pariah
state to that of a trusted and progressive nation. For example, I urge
the
new government to invite the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and
Interpol to open and maintain field offices in the country as a way of
demonstrating its commitment to the fight against modern day
international
terrorism and drug trafficking in the region.
Additional long term issues such as decentralization of government
functions, fiscal reforms and accountability must command immediate
attention. What about a consideration of a reputable , international
accounting outfit recommended by the European Union (EU) being
permanently
detailed to the Finance Ministry, General Auditing Office and the
General
Services Agency.
As for security, the AU and ECOWAS could be requested to second long
term
military advisors and liaisons as the country is still vulnerable on
security.
There are also issues of citizenship, constitutional reforms and the
re-integration of ex-combatants which must be addressed sooner than
later in
order to spur the economy.
Finally, there has to be a national and international engagement of “rejectionists” of the results of the elections who may want to
undermine
the gains made so far. Remember, some of these “rejectionists” lost the
power to threaten and harm others, influence and access to government
resources and money to supplement their lifestyles. Ignoring such
rejectionists could potentially precipitate the genesis of future
challenges
for Liberia.
This expose is not to suggest that national elections is a panacea but
a
small, vital and necessary step to rethinking, reforming and rebirthing
Liberia.
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About the author:
The author, Emmanuel Abalo, is an exiled Liberian journalist , media and human rights activist. He served as a former News Director of the erstwhile Catholic owned ELCM Community Radio and later with the Liberian Broadcasting System (ELBC). He is the former Acting President of the Press Union of Liberia (PUL). Mr. Abalo presently resides in Pennsylvania, USA and works as an analyst with CITIGROUP, North America.
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