PHOTO: Former Rep. Tokpah J. Mulbah
By Moses M. Tokpah, mosesmtokpah@gmail.com
The President-elect of the Rubber Planters Association of Liberia (RPAL) and former Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tokpah J. Mulbah has assured rubber farmers that they will not be disappointed by his leadership.
He made the assertion following his election at the seventh National Congress of the RPAL at its newly dedicated headquarters in Cooper Farm Community, Todee District, Montserrado County over the weekend.
The former Bong County Representative defeated his opponent, Galima Baysah during the election process.
Mr. Mulbah said his election did not come as a surprise adding that he has been in the rubber industry for the past 16-years and also member of the Liberia Rubber Development Fund.
Mr. Mulbah expressed excitement that the farmers imposed their trust in him and elected him as president of the RPAL.
The former deputy speaker and now President-elect of the RPAL stated that the farmers have called him to serve the people of Liberia and the rubber industry, adding that he has passion for the work he is being called to do, and as such he will not disappoint them.
Mr. Mulbah indicated that he will work for the industry in order for the local farmers to benefit from the RPAL that according to him has existed for 57 years and headed by ‘the big guys’.
“We’re common farmers and for them to look at me to put their trust in me, they have called me to serve them, so I will serve them and they will be able to benefit,” he explained.
The newly elected RPAL President said that Liberian rubber farmers have better future, because the price of rubber is increasing and by 2030 China will need about 15m metric tons of raw rubber (natural rubber) ,while today the total consumption of rubber across the World is 15m metric tons.
He added that in the past the employment level in the rubber sector is being huge but said today most of the farmers have been forgotten with no one to advocate on their behalf and to help them.
Mr. Mulbah noted that for the past three years he has been with the Association he has helped a lot adding, “like loan given to them that they cannot get we have been able to advocate on their behalf so they can benefit from the loan”.
In a related development, Mr. Mulbah has said he is impressed with the level of work done by the first female president of the RPAL stating that more men have served in the position and received more money but failed to do any tangible development.
“We applaud her yesterday as my remark I asked her that indeed we are proud of you, what you have done for us as most of the men have worked in this organization they have received more money, like under Kief Gibah and other administration received millions of dollars they didn’t have anything; the more difficult time in our history where Corona Virus hit and in the difficult time as she was President she was able to construct a modern building like this we appreciate her,” Mr. Tokpah recounted.
The RPAL President-elect has vowed to improve on the lacacy of his predecessor and arch his name in the history of the Association.
Mr. Tokpah also said his leadership will work with the outgoing leadership, all rubber farmers, and processors in making the sector a vibrant one.
The former deputy speaker at the same time mentioned that his leadership will engage foreign partners to give them new technology to be able to help the local farmers.
The new RPAL boss asserted he knows the importance of rubber in the Liberian economy and for such reason he will engage the Liberian government and all stakeholders to work together to improve the sector so government can get the needed taxes while the local farmers can be able to benefit from their crops.
Mr. Tokpah has therefore, called on the outgoing leadership to work alone with his leadership in order to explore other avenues for the benefit of the rubber farmers.