By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com>
Contrary to reports from the June 7 protest organizers, Council of Patriots (COP) of delivering its petition to President George Weah’s office on Monrovia, the CDC government says it is yet to receive the group’s petition.
The COP organized last Friday’s peaceful protest against bad governance and corruption in the Liberian capital, Monrovia, which saw thousands converging on Capitol Hill.
Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs, Eugene L. Fahngon on Thursday refuted information lingering around that the government has received the petition. Minister Fahngon made the disclosure on Thursday, June 13, 2019 at MICAT’s regular press briefing.
On Monday, a spokesman for COP, vocal radio talk show host Henry Costa said an enveloped copy of their petition would have landed on the desk of President Weah that same day.
Deputy Minister Fahngon questioned the COP as to whom, when, and where they presented their petition, which calls for the dismissal and prosecution of Finance Minister Samuel Tweah and Central Bank of Liberia Governor Nathaniel Patray.
The COP has given the Weah government a one-month ultimatum to address their concerns spelled out in their petition, which presentation failed to take place at the eleventh hour during last Friday’s peaceful protest, when they demanded the release of their supporters arrested by the police ahead of June 7.
According to the government’s deputy chief spokesman, the COP petition was only seen on Social Media and it was a reading ceremony that they did.
Deputy Minister Fahngon further said that, while it true that COP did not present petition to the government, the government remains committed to dialogue with all stakeholders to see the betterment of the country.
He said that the COP presented their petition to the internet and press, “how can government be held responsible or be subjected to their demands as they claimed.”
COP last Sunday read their petition through the press at the National headquarters of the All Liberian party in Monrovia’s Sinkor suburb.
But many were confused as to whether it was being delivered to any government officials for further redress.
Meanwhile, Deputy Information Minister Fahngon said the government of Liberia through the Commerce Ministry will shortly embark on what he called, the enforcement of Liberian dollar banknotes in all directions.
He added that Liberians dollar remains our legal tender and “people must accept it that it is our country money.”
The Deputy Information Minister used the occasion to laude the World Health Organization (WHO) for donating ten vehicles to the Ministry of Health and they include Toyota land cruiser and Nissan Patrol valued over four hundred thousand US dollars.