OPINION: OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
The office of President George Manneh Weah recently announced that the Liberian leader’s planned July 17/18, 2019 National economic dialogue conference will not be held due to major festivities being planned to celebrate Liberia’s July 26 Independence anniversary.
The Executive Mansion has said the President, who took officer well going to two years now, intends to have a big ’26 celebrations, inviting at least five West African heads of states.
No new date has been set for the planned national dialogue, which was prompted by a mass June 7, 20019 protest led by the Council of Patriots, in the wake of the current economic crisis. There is hike in prices of basic commodities and there has been a drastic fall in the value of the Liberian dollar against the US dollar.
Since the announcement of a huge celebrations being planned, the Liberian government has come under strong criticism in some quarters that instead of spending big money on July festivities, President Weah should instead call off the pomp and pageantry amidst the the tough times.
One of such citizens making such a call is a UK-based Liberian Journalist and advocate popularly called Max Mixer, who has penned this OPEN LETTER to the President:
OPINION: OPEN LETTER TO PRESIDENT GEORGE MANNEH WEAH
Maxson Kpakio
Current Address:
United Kingdom
Home Address:
Rehab Community
Paynesville, Liberia
H.E. Dr George M. Weah
PRESIDENT
Republic of Liberia
14th July 2019
Dear Mr President:
I present compliments of my highest esteem to you and your family including members of your cabinet.
As a concern citizen and an advocate for social justice, I am hugely constrained writing you this letter. You Excellency, few day weeks ago, I learned that you are planning a huge celebration for our independence day on 26July. My understanding also is that such celebration is to be sponsored by the State, meaning that every penny that will be spent will come from the national cover.
Mr President, permit me to kindly appeal to you in the name of God and see reason to have any such celebration cancelled. Your Excellency, under the current climate in the country, especially the economy hardship which is even leaving our healthcare centers vulnerable, I want to plead with you to abandon any form of celebration that we as a nation will spend more than US $1,000.00.
There are so many hospitals right now in our country that are lacking of basic medication to even treat an emergency patient let alone to talk about a pregnant woman or that little child seeking a second chance in life as they await for a medication that will save them from dying.
Mr President, one of your colleagues, President John Magufuli upon taken office as leader of Tanzania, he cancelled such celebrations stating that his country was facing huge difficulties including financial difficulties. Agree with me Mr President, our current financial situations are challenging and you as our leader will have to take that pressure time to accept and admit that in deed our country is struggling and that you have to lead us out of it. This however must come from you as our leader.
If any reason that the budget has already been raised and that the money is right now available, kindly share between few referral hospitals to enable them purchase some basics while we wait of the 2019/2019 national budget.
Yours, Sincerely
Maxson S. Kpakio
Concern Citizen/Social Justice Advocate