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Two separate pro-Ellen Johnson Sirleaf re-election groups leave the United States today, July 29, to assess developments and to hold discussions with their counterparts in Liberia.
Zayzay Slonglo, National Chairman of the Liberians for Ellen (LIFE), heads a 13-man delegation, while Mr. Daniel Gayou, Chairman of the Campaign to Re-elect Ellen (CARE), leads a one-man team.
The fact-finding delegations are sponsored by the memberships of the two groups, and are scheduled to tour six Liberian counties.
At a well-attended farewell program held in honor of the delegations at his Sharon Hill residence in Pennsylvania on Wednesday, July 28, Fredrick Sam Gibson, Chairman of the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Unity Party, said his party is willing to work with any group that strives to re-elect President Sirleaf.
He said it’s important that the UP cooperate with individuals and groups that want the Party’s Standard Bearer re-elected, “in order to continue the process of building institutions even when Ellen is no longer the leader”.
Gibson urged members of the delegations to hold discussions on critical issues affecting the country in order to form part of their report when they return to the United States.
For his part, LIFE National Chairman Slonglo said most of his members were not politicians, but Liberians who are simply interested in the development of their country.
He said their support for Ellen has been validated by the level of progress that has been made since she took over the leadership of the country.
On corruption in the government, Slonglo said Ellen is the first president who has made corruption a national debate. He said it would seem that corruption was like a “monster in a dark room, and suddenly the light is switched on everybody is now talking about it.”
In remarks, Gayou of CARE said Ellen deserves a second term because of the numerous developments taking place in the country, and called on Liberians to support political parties of their choice by providing them with the needed resources.
He said this was the only way voters could hold politicians accountable, if they fail to live up to their expectations.
Gayou also said while in Liberia, he will stress to President Sirleaf the importance of tackling corruption, “which is a major concern among Liberians in the Diaspora”.
Toman T. Gboyah of the Liberty Party Pennsylvania chapter spoke of the need for President Sirleaf not to revert the country to the days of the True Whig Party when only few enjoyed the wealth of the country.
He said Ellen must remain the tough person she was, “especially when she served in the Tolbert administration”, to deal with corruption in the country.
For his part, Edwin Dennis of the Liberian People’s Party rejected the notion in some quarters that Ellen is the first Liberian president to tackle the issue of corruption openly, saying “President William R. Tolbert did clamp down on corruption during his administration”.
A statement of “Recognition and Appreciation” to the delegations was read by M. Blonkajay Jackson, Advisory Board Chairman of UP Pennsylvania chapter, reinforcing the Party’s support to cooperate with LIFE and CARE to re-elect President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf.
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