PHOTO: Superintendent Walker
By J. Peter S. Dennis, dennisrealone@gmail.com
GBARNGA, Liberia- Scores of Citizens of Bong County have vehemently called on Superintendent Esther Yamah Walker to retract a recent statement made against PH.D holders in the country, which some locals have termed “offensive”.
During a February 8, 2022 appearance on a local radio Premium FM, a in Gbarnga owned by Senator Prince Kermue Moye and hosted by Journalist Mohammed Melvin Kwenah, Superintendent Walker publicly referred to Philosopher of Education Degree (PH.D) holders as “Very Stupid People” while speaking on critical local issues in the County.
She did not however apologize during the over 45 minutes’ interview.
“People may say in the corner that the superintendent is not educated, experience is higher is higher than education. There are PHD holders that are very stupid–that’s why this country is suffering from [them],” Superintendent Walker said her live radio appearance.
“PHD holders have come in this country, they’ve got this country in a mess,” the Bong County Superintendent continued.
The Bong County Superintendent didn’t however, point out any individual (s) in reference to her statement.
The assertion was made when she was responding to inquiry regarding the recent investigative report released by three (3) civil society organizations on the alleged mismanagement of resources and thirty (30) projects that were agreed upon during the November 12, 2018 Bong County Council Sitting.
This demeaning remark has since sparked tension here, with many calling on Superintendent Walker to extend an official apology to citizens.
It appears that they never felt the crash of the statement instantly, until the following morning and up to present.
Many citizens here however feel the remark is not only intended to insult, but it’s a complete disrespect to education.
They also feel that it might be directed to President Dr. George Weah who is also called “Dr. Dr.), because he is said to have a double honorary doctorate degree and is also contributing to the education of young people in the Country.
Anthony Z. Kollie is a regular caller on all major talk shows in Bong and a person living with disabilities, in Gbarnga.
Kollie said: “I’m very disappointed in Superintendent Walker’s statement. She is only trying to tell us that education is less important in this country. She shouldn’t have said such a thing as a mother and a leader in a public medium.”
“Our Superintendent can’t be very disrespectful to us as a leader in this county like that! She needs to use the same public platform to appeal to us for openly abusing our well learned people in this country,” Alonzo Kelejor- a former supporter of Edward Emmanuel Gboe in the November 16, 2021 by-election angrily said.
“Is it wrong to go to school and obtain PH.D to come back and live in Liberia that she will be insulting us like this” another caller asked.
“While it’s true that she publicly disgraced us, we just have to be moderate and call upon her to find a place in her heart to come back by taking the shame off her face and appeal to us because she didn’t do anything good,” another Gbarnga resident cautioned.
Betty King, a regular caller said: “Superintendent Walker has become a total embarrassment to the People of Bong County. Some kind of way I might agree with her (Supt. Walker); because it is unfortunate for PHD holders to make recommendations for high school graduates to get job. The woman is right to insult them, because they never even knew the person to make Superintendent of this Bong. Since they cheered for her to become superintendent, she is right to be insulting us in this county.”
Article 54 of the 1986 Liberian Constitution gives the President of Liberia the authority to make appointments in the Executive branch government with confirmation by the Liberian Senate.
Dennis C. Flomo, a resident of County field in Gbarnga, who also phoned in to the Gbarnga talk show remarked: “I want to apologize to our PHD holders in the country and beyond for the insult. I want for all PH.D holders including President Weah to forgive her because she spoke out of ignorance.”
Dennis Kpana is a resident of Suakoko district and also a youth and political advocate in Bong County. He wants the Superintendent to apologize for the denigrating statement towards educators as well as the citizens.
Justify Kernia, a resident of electoral district #1, also urged leaders to be careful in whatever they say in the public space, adding that it will have societal impact on them including their children.
Alex Flomo took to Facebook and wrote “This woman is something else, honestly” as a reaction.
Catherine Kamara also reacted to the statement on facebok “If she was educated or knew the importance of education, she was never going to make such statement.”
“Also speaking, the Chairman of the Bong County School Board Dr. Alferdson W. Tiakerweyah who just received a PHD through hard study in the Philippines and returned to Bong County said, the statement made by the superintendent is an affront to the educational world and called on Superintendent Walker to retract her statement as well as apologize to the Educational Sector of Liberia.
Dr. Tiakerweyah through the Bong County School Board has given one week ultimatum to Superintendent Walk to retract her statement; adding that if noting is done, the Bong County School Board will have a serious stance on the matter in the County.”
It can be recalled that April 20, 2020, Madam Walker unilaterally announced six suspected cases of the Corona virus disease in the county without the involvement of health authorities, something that triggered confusion in the County. They believed that she was in error to announce these cases since she is not a health practitioner or the County Health Team Officer.
Backdrop to series of controversies
Superintendent Esther Yamah Walker’s reign has been marred by a series of controversies since her appointment by President George Mannah Weah in 2018. President Weah on February 15, 2019 indefinitely suspended her following allegations she made in a leaked audio which went viral on the Social Media and on radio stations across Liberia.
That audio recording centered on President Weah’s reported displeasure over the bestowment of the nation’s highest traditional honor on his Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor – a ceremony that led to the dismissal of the county’s Dakpanah (heads of chiefs in the country).
Chief Moses Suakollie, the Dakpanah, and Arthur Kulah, native superintendent in Bong County (head of chiefs in Bong County) lost their jobs, following a high-level traditional meeting headed by Assistant Minister of Culture at the Ministry of Internal Affairs, Joseph B. Jangar, and Chief Zanzar Karwor, chair of the chiefs and elders of the National Traditional Council of Liberia in Bong County.
In the leaked audio, Madam Walker was heard suggesting that the President was likely to dismiss a few traditional leaders over the row.
The Bong County Superintendent is also heard explaining to her aides that she had attended a party organized by First Lady Clar Weah after President Weah delivered his second Annual Message.
According to her, it was at the President’s Jamaica Resort, along the Roberts International Airport highway, at least three of Pres. Weah’s trusted lieutenants – Finance and Development Planning Minister Samuel Tweah and Minister of State, Nathaniel McGill.
The President then re-appointed her after several appeals from citizens and leaders in the county.
Cries from the citizens keep intensifying, with many of them calling on President Weah to dismiss Superintendent Walker, while others differ with such a call.