ACCRA/MONROVIA: Former Auditor-General of Liberia, John S. Morlu has again criticized the Joseph Boakai-led administration for mass dismissals.
According to Morlu, the “dismissal of CDCians represents poor governance and a disregard for the interests of Liberians.”
Morlu: “It’s time for Boakai to wake up and show true leadership. This situation demands courage, and we encourage everyone to stand up for their fellow Liberians.”
Former AG Morlu contends that the Constitution grants the right to select and appoint political appointees, not professional workers and civil servants.
Morlu noted in the United of America, a president can appoint 4,033 out of 1.4 million workers in that Federal Government.
He added that in Liberia, “there is no Presidential Appointment Act that clearly defines the number of people a President can appoint. Boakai, Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, and Speaker Jonathan Fonati Koffa have neglected to pass such laws in Liberia, allowing the President to potentially appoint over 5 million people to any position he can create on the fly. This is Bad Governance 101, yet the disorganization continues under Boakai,” the former Auditor General averred.
In a long write-up sent to this paper over the weekend, Morlu encouraged Liberians to stand up against bad practices, “whether they come from Uncle Joe Boakai, Weah, Sirleaf, Bryant, Taylor, Doe, Tolbert, or Tubman. We cannot pick and choose based on tribal or political lines. Liberia is hurting and not at peace, with zero opportunities for jobs for ordinary folks. So far, we see no rescue, only a replacement game,” former AG Morlu asserted.
According to Morlu, even ruling Unity Party partisans are being left out due to friendship and cronyism, pointing out that “officials in the Executive Mansion—99% are not Unity Party partisans. The Mansion is one place where 100% of the people in political appointments should be UP partisans to enforce the UP platform,” he said.
Morlu further indicated that in the civil service, party affiliation should not determine a person’s right to employment.
Speaking on some of the mistakes of the President, Morlu indicated that “Boakai’s team is repeating the same mistakes Weah made, and this needs to stop. Boakai and his team criticized the Weah administration when a few UP partisans were dismissed for allegedly “insulting” President Weah.”
Morlu narrating some missteps of the past, explained that Liberians rejected Lenn Eugene Nagbe’s statements that no UP partisans would be employed if the CDC won a second term. Many of us spoke out against Weah’s administration when a few partisans were unfairly dismissed.
However, Morlu said, pressure from UP Partisans, make former President Weah to interven then, by stopping the overzealous actions of some ministers and officials who were trying to prove false loyalty.
The same in 2018 is now, in 2024, Morlu said “we’re seeing a similar pattern with Josiah Joekai, the fast-talking CSA Director. For full disclosure, Josiah used to call me “uncle,” but now he barely acknowledges me. Until the day he was appointed, he would frequently call to express grievances. This “nephew” of mine is undermining Boakai’s government by promoting the dismissal of CDC partisans—a move that is just plain wrong.”
Morlu encouraged President Boakai “to intervene, just as Weah did, to put an end to this nonsense.”
In contrast, individuals like Jefferson Koijee and the Comptroller General kept the UP partisans they met and worked alongside them.
Morlu asked: “Where are the strong leaders in Boakai’s government willing to stand up to Josiah Joekai?”
He said that “many officials are opposed to Joekai’s crude actions against CDCians but have cowardly gone into hiding. Every Liberian deserves a job to support their family.”
Hitting the President’s bad governance decisions, Morlu also contends that instead of dismissing people, Boakai’s economic team should focus on job creation. See Morlu’s article pages 4&5.
