A distinguish Medievalist, J. R. Strayer once said, “No community can survive and no institution can function properly without constant reference to its past experience.”
Martha Sinoe
In past administrations in Liberia we saw individuals who were dismissed for corruption and incompetence quickly reemployed into higher positions. It was once said during reign of the late president of Liberia, William R. Tolbert’s administration that individuals who were sacked for lateness in the morning were candidates for appointment by afternoon hours to the extent that the president lost track of those dismissed.
Whether it was due to inner circle Politics, Nepotism, Tribalism, Favoritism or lack of qualified people to replace the dismissed officials; it is not clear but one thing that is clear is that the sooner these reemployed officials enter offices for their new assignment their main focus was to grab enough pieces of the pie before the next dismissal is announced. This has been some of the main causes of the corruption that has engulfed our country for years.
However, Liberians in and out of the country continue to advocate for corruption free leadership, they continue to call on leaders in Liberia to appoint individuals with clean records. But some of those who preach these advocating messages, when placed in leadership positions do the same they are preaching against.
OLM as a community organization can not preach these messages and not be able to live by the message. The appointment of Mr. Kamaty Diahn by President Martha Sinoe to head the Liberian Independence Day (July 26) celebrations in Minnesota is in my view, a wrong message to the right people. Recently the Grand Gedeh Association of Minnesota accused Mr. Diahn of financial mismanagement. This allegation he has not been exonerated from, but Mrs. Sinoe find it necessary to appoint him to higher position.
What is disturbing is the fact that organizations like OLM, ULAA and others that continue to voice their concerns about corruption in Liberian and yet still continue to use individuals with questionable track records in various functions. Why? Is it because there are not qualified individuals in the Liberian communities, except people like Mr. Diahn and Mr. Grimes? Or is it inner circle politics above the interest of the people?
If the leadership of Liberian communities in America expects to be listened to about corruption and other vital issues in Liberia, they must be able to live by what they preach. We cannot continue to have individuals with questionable track records in our communities, who have not been exonerated appointed to higher positions. That is a recipe for corruption and lawlessness, President Sinoe needs to reconsider her decision. Our past as a people, community and a nation must be able to guard us in moving the community forward. If Mr. Diahn is to serve the community, especially where finances will be involved, he must first be exonerated from allegations against him in the Grand Gedeh Association. After all, Grand Gediens in Minnesota are part of OLM too.
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