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‘We Need Them,’ Says Ellen of Diaspora
Liberians Courtesy: Liberian Observer December 27, 2009  MONROVIA
– President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf fielded questions on two major issues
on a local radio talk show Monday morning – corruption and her
government’s employment of Liberians from the Diaspora.The radio station, Truth FM 96.1, hosted the President on its Truth Breakfast Show yesterday morning. In answer to questions about the prosecution of suspended Information Minister, Laurence K. Bropleh, who is alleged to be involved in acts of corruption at the Ministry of Information, Culture and Tourism (MICAT), the president said she said she feels for him, but that added that her administration, nonetheless, stands ready to implement recommendations from the GAC audit. The Liberian leader suspended Bropleh and ordered an audit of the ministry’s accounts by the General Auditing Commission (GAC). Sirleaf also ordered the Ministry of Justice to investigate the Bropleh saga. The president asserted that her government upholds the rule of law and will punish anyone who violates the public’s trust, but according to the law. “I have to wait for the report. I do feel for Bropleh, but I can’t violate the public trust; if the report proves him wrong, we will use the law.” There have been widespread reports that both the Ministry of Justice and the GAC had completed their separate investigations and forwarded their findings on the alleged Bropleh corruption saga to the office of the President for her perusal and action. But on yesterday morning’s talk show, Sirleaf clarified that she had only received a report from the Ministry of Justice and was awaiting the GAC audit report. Earlier this year, the Ministry of Finance detected that some private citizens were receiving salaries from MICAT’s Foreign Service payroll. Reports said such activities began as far back as 2007. Bropleh was out of the country attending an international tourism event in the People’s Republic of China (PRC) when the alleged financial scandal was uncovered. To help with investigation, the Information Minister, now undergoing indefinite suspension, was immediately recalled from that Asian state by the president. Sirleaf also reacted to widespread belief that her government places a premium on the recruitment of its officials primarily from the United States of America (USA) and other foreign countries to the disadvantage of home-based Liberians. She categorically dismissed the claims and challenged her critics to conduct a survey into various ministries and agencies in order to know the reality. “It is absolutely false that I am bringing more people from America to work here than those that are here. Besides, they (people from the Diaspora) are Liberians. We need them,” President Sirleaf emphasized. She pointed out that many young people are currently seeking government scholarships to study abroad, and that after their studies they will want to return home and work. “Should we deny them if they are qualified?” she asked. |
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