Liberia Institutes Measures to Kick Ebola OUT

Special Statement 

By President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

On the Ebola Crisis  

(As Delivered Wednesday, July 30, 2014)

My fellow citizens:

Today, in continuation of our efforts to combat the deadly Ebola virus, I am pleased to launch the National Action Plan presented by the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare in partnership with the World Health Organization. Given the multi-dimensional efforts, including local, regional and international which we must bring to this fight against this scourge, the National Action Plan as presented is by no means exhaustive. However, it establishes a useful framework by which we can continue our work, as well as seek international support and assistance, as we invite the inclusions of other important aspects to the plan.

Amara Konneh: Liberia’s Dual Minister

Min. Konneh

Liberian legislators are now left with no other option but to rest their case against Amara Konneh and stop branding him as “impersonator”.  

Konneh became the country’s super minister Tuesday night, when President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf announced the long-anticipated merger of the ministries of Finance and Economic Planning, with Amara Konneh maintaining his position as Minister.

Concurrently, he served as Liberia's Acting Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs, in addition to his role as the country’s finance minister; something that aggravated legislators in August 2012. Their (legislators) point was that the position of “Minister of Finance and Planning” was non-existent in the Liberian government. They argued that it was inaccurate for Konneh to ascribe (assign, credit) such a title to himself, describing such reference by him as “not only deceptive, but an impersonation.” According to them, this was an affront and disrespect to them.

At one point, they wondered why Konneh was still signing documents as acting minister of planning when in fact they had raised the matter with the President and she had assured them that she would address it. He had been summoned numerous times by the House of Senate over his dual-ministerial role at Finance and Planning. In fact, lawmakers had recently called for his resignation.

Well, the President’s Tuesday announcement puts Konneh [officially] in charge of the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning. Members of the national legislature had better start concentrating their energies on more pressing national issues. At least now, Konneh is off their plate.   

Finance and Development Planning Minister Konneh has been a core member of President Sirleaf's Economic Management Team and is also the National Coordinator of the Liberia Development Alliance that coordinates Liberia’s development agenda (Agenda for Transformation - 2012 - 2017), among other positions of influence. He was named Finance Minister of the Year 2014 by The Banker magazine for his efforts to reform and grow the Liberian economy.