MONROVIA: In the face of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s apparent slow pace in the formation of his government since his induction on January 22, 2024, it appears that Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Mohammed Konneh, is not happy with the President.
On his official Facebook Page, Senator Konneh, who is also former Minister of Finance and Development Planning said, President Boakai’s appointments are not geographically balanced in terms country, as the president, in the past, promised each County a Ministerial Position.
The Gbarpolu County Senator said so far, President Boakai has appointed 15 Ministers to head Ministries including Two Ministers of State Without Portfolio.
Lofa has 5 (29.4%); Bong has 4 (23.5%); Bassa, Bomi, and Nimba have 2 each (35.3%) while Grand Cape Mount and Sinoe Counties have one each (11.7%).
Lofa County- MoCI, MoE, MoYS, MIA, MoSWP;
Bong- MPW, MoA, MPW, MoSWP; Bomi- MFDP, MoT; Bassa- MoH, MICAT; Nimba- MoJ, MoD;
Sinoe- MoS; Cape Mount- MFA.
Senator Konneh added that of out 15 of 18 cabinet ministers (83.3% of cabinet positions) appointed from 7 of 15 counties (46.6% of counties).
He argued that with 3 cabinet ministerial appointments remaining (Mines and Energy, Labour and Post and Telecommunications), 8 counties- (Gbarpolu, Montserrado, Margibi, Grand Kru, Rivercess, Grand Gedeh, Maryland, and Rivergee) are without Ministerial post.
He won Gbarpolu and Margibi in both rounds of the elections, and Montserrado in the runoff.
Continuing his argument, Senator Konneh disclosed that President Boakai promised a Minister from each county. Clearly, this promise will not be fulfilled.
He further averred that none of the 15 Cabinet ministers appointed so far to head ministries is a Muslim.
Senator Konneh who is a staunch member of the Muslim Community in Liberia, added that the Southeast which has six counties (Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, Maryland, Grand Kru, Rivergee, and Rivercess) has received only one Ministerial appointment.
The Gbarpolu new Lawmaker maintained that five counties (Lofa, Bong, Bassa, Nimba, and Bomi) account for 88.2% of all cabinet appointments so far.
Those of us who supported President Boakai must remind him of his promises quietly and publicly when it becomes necessary to help him deliver the promises he made when he campaigned for President. Change means change, he argued.
