By E. Geedahgar Garsuah
MONROVIA: The President of the Liberia United Charcoal Union has expressed serious disappointment in the workings of Presidential Protocol Officers assigned at the Executive Mansion, which plays host to the Offices of President George Manneh Weah.
Mr. Alfred H. Kilimi, leader of the Union, termed as ‘disorganized’ the manner and form in which protocol officers at the Executive Mansion handle communications intended for the Liberian Presidency from ordinary citizens and groups.
Kilimi’s disappointment apparently stemmed from the backdrop that President Weah and members of the National Legislature who were formally invited to program marking the formal launch of the Union and its planned rally did not show up for the occasion, and without the Presidential Protocol officials, or members of the Legislature stating any reason.
The official launch of the Liberia United Charcoal Union was held on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville City outside Monrovia.
Kilimi disclosed that on 17, May, 2023, an official invitation was served President Weah, via the protocol Office, humbly requesting for the President to serve as a Keynote Speaker and Chief Launcher of the Dollar Rally for the Charcoal Union.
According to him, his leadership team made a follow up on Wednesday, May 31, 2023, to the Executive Mansion after the two weeks grace period.
The Union leader said, his leadership was shocked that protocol officers at the Executive Mansion could not provide any answer as regards the status of the letter of invitation the Union sent to President Weah.
He noted that such attitude on the part of those responsible to execute such duty in the Presidential Protocol Office has the propensity to unduly depict a perception that President Weah’s Office is disorganized.
However, a carbon copy of the said communication, which is in the possession of this paper indicates that Mr. Joseph G. Horace of the Protocol Office was the recipient of the May 17, 2023, letter from the National Charcoal Union addressed to, and intended for the attention of President George Weah.
Mr. Kilimi also blamed Mr. Horace for President Weah’s absence from the Union’s launching ceremony and the Dollar Rally and from serving as a Keynote Speaker and Chief Launcher of the dollar rally.
In similar manner, carbon copies of letter in the possession of this papers confirmed that Mr. Augustine Sieh in the office of House Speaker Bhofal Chambers; Madam Christine Cleon from the office of Senate Pro-temp Albert T. Chie; Mr. Z. Blake in the office of Montserrado Senator Saah Joseph; and Madam Watta Dominic in the office of Monrovia City Mayor, Jefferson Tamba Koijee received similar invitations from the Charcoal Union on behalf of their respective bosses who also failed to show up at the occasion, and without any courtesy of replying to the Union.
Kilimi blamed the apparent failure of President Weah and members of the 54th National Legislature to grace the official launch of the Liberia’s Charcoal Industry that continues to contribute to the growth and development of Liberia through the production of charcoal for local consumption on the part of protocol officers at the above mentioned offices.
President Kilimi also expressed disappointment in Montserrado County Senator, Saah Joseph, for not keeping his promise to provide seven buses to help the organization transport its members from Bong, Margibi, Bomi, Grand Bassa, and Nimba to Montserrado for the country.
The Executive Mansion, through Presidential Press Secretary, Isaac Solo Kelgbeh, did not respond to several mobile calls made to him on Monday for comment on the assertions of the Liberia United Charcoal Union.
