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. 

Choose Service Over Self Interest

Trawally believes servant leadership
is the way forward

Members of the Liberian Mandingo community, both at home and abroad—especially those residing in the United States, have been urged to take a break from back-biting that a crab mentality fosters:  ‘if it is not me, it can’t be anyone else’---forging, instead, a united front by striving to foster the growth and development of their community, as opposed to pushing individual agendas.

The president of the Federation of Liberian Mandingo Associations in the USA (FELMAUSA), expects that his kinsmen will shelf their differences and consolidate their strengths “by working together without distractions and [remaining] focused” on doing those things that would best serve the common good of the community as a whole.

Mr. Bangalee Trawally believes the crab mentality of “if I can’t have it, neither can you” will eventually prevent any potential success of the Mandingo community; ensuring a rather collective demise. However, he is also of the strongest conviction that by subscribing to being a servant, rendering selfless services in the interest of the community, “rather than fighting for [individual] positions and titles”, will help to a greater extent in moving the community forward.

Sirleaf Suspends 3 for Financial Impropriety

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has with immediate effect suspended three senior officials of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Executive Mansion has announced.

Those suspended by the Liberian leader include the Deputy Minister for Administration, Una Kumba Thompson; Consul-General, Consulate of the Republic of Liberia in New York, Williams G. Greaves, Jr.; and Comptroller of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, James G. Quiqui.

In a brief statement released to the public on Friday, June 6, 2014, the Executive Mansion said the three officials are suspended on reports of their involvement in financial impropriety. 

They will be turned over to the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC) for further investigation, it added.

Meanwhile, President Sirleaf has dismissed the Deputy Director-General for Administration of the General Services Agency (GSA), Mr. Galakpai Kortimai. His dismissal takes immediate effect.

More Than Just Victims

Irene Santiago, a world-renowned expert on conflict negotiation and the crucial role women can play in that field, will next Thursday, June 12, 2014, join her peers in London to launch a global campaign on Women, Peace and Security. The event, according to Irene, coincides with the Global Summit to End Sexual Violence in Conflict, hosted by the Government of the United Kingdom, in cooperation with international representatives from around the world. 

Farming Never Left My Blood

A golden field of swamp rice in Duport Road, Monrovia 

I was born on a family farm in Grand Gedeh County, southeastern Liberia. Our farm was situated within a timber plantation—Prime Timber Product (PTP)—near Zwedru city. This is where my dad, Amadou Fofana, spent most of his days; cultivating a mixed farm consisting of up and lowland rice, veggies, corn, and cassava, and fishing in nearby narrow rivers---all done by hand. And as a baby, this is where I spent my first few days, following my arrival into this world. Though I didn’t live there along with my dad, whenever I had the chance to visit the farm along with my mom, I took it. Dad came home at the end of each month for at least a week or two. But mom visited him at least every weekend.