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Health System At Risk In Weah’s Grand Kru County: CHO On CDC Campaign Trail

(Last Updated On: )

-Citizens Demand Health Offer Dr. Wreh’s Recall

-As The CDC Gov’t Continues To Openly Violate The National Code Of Conduct 

PHOTO: CHO Dr. J. Woyee Wreh using every means including the airwave to campaign for CDC’s victory come October 10 

By Garmah Never Lomo, garmahlomo@gmail.com

There is no letup in open violations of the National Code of Conduct law by many senior and junior officials of the ruling CDC government of President George Manneh Weah, with the latest being the County Health Officer of the President’s hometown Grand Kru County in southeastern Liberia.

Reports say upon the influence of Senate President Pro Tempore, Grand Kru County Senator Albert Tugbe Chie, the current Grand Kru County County Health Officer, Dr. J. Woyee Wreh since campaign officially opened on August 5, 2023, has gone on a campaign spree canvassing votes for the ruling CDC party, breaching the National Code of Conduct Act.

This latest development has added to numerous cases of violations of the Act by many top officials in the Liberian government, who have for months been openly canvassing to give President Weah and his CDC one-round victory in the October 10, 2023 presidential election. From the leadership of the CDC National Campaign Team, which also include the Chairman of the Governance Commission, Atty. Garrison Yealu to other officials, the code of conduct provisions have been flouted.

Some relevant portions of the Code of Conduct Act many have cited have been violated over the past few months under the Liberian leader’s watch.

PART V: POLITICAL PARTICIPATION

“5.1 All Officials appointed by the President of the Republic of Liberia shall not: a) engage in political activities, canvass or contest for elected offices; b) use Government facilities, equipment or resources in support of partisan or political activities; c) serve on a campaign team of any political party, or the campaign of any independent candidate

5.10 Avoidance of Conflict – Politics and Work Every Employee of Government shall ensure that his or her participation in political activities does not bring him or her in conflict with official duties.

5.9 Any public official, after due process, who is found guilty of violating any provision of this section shall be immediately removed from the position or office held by him/her, and thereafter no part of the funds appropriated by any law for such position or office shall be used to pay compensation to such person.”

In Grand Kru County, some citizens of Grand Kru have alarmed over the fate of the County’s health system in the wake of this development, fearing is being put at risk for a medical doctor in a public health capacity to be openly involved in politics in the ongoing elections process.

The current County Health Officer, Dr. Woyee Wreh is said to have abandoned his medical work and he is seen during working hours campaigning and wearing party Barrett and t-shirt.

Some locals speaking on a local radio station in the County have criticized the appointment of Dr. Wreh given that the health sector is non-political.

Josiah Sloh Nagbe and   Nelson Tecgeoh Torbor said the Dr. Wreh is always seen wearing CDC Barrett and T-shirt bearing the CDC emblem.

The two individuals expressed their disappointment in Dr. Wreh when he should be saving lives at the referral hospital instead of abandoning his job to campaign for the ruling establishment and called on the National government through the Ministry of Health for an immediate relocation of the Grand Kru County CHO total involvement into politics.

The citizens also lamented that the appointment for the Grand Kru County Health Officer Dr J.  Woyee Wreh to campaign for Senator Albert Tugbe Chie has the propensity to undermine the Healthcare system in Grand Kru.

“This won’t be only here, but we will take it to the letter that Dr. J. Woyee Wreh be relocated to different County because we cannot allow our Health center mess with Politics as stated” they narratedin their comments.

“Dr. Wreh as a professional medical Doctor must do the needful to rescind his appointment so as to avoid judgment at the “Court of Public Opinion”. It’s ethically wrong for him to even accept to function in such fashion as we gear towards the most critical time of our country’s history,” they added.

The name of the Grand Kru County CHO is in a release of the appointment lists from the offices of Senator Albert Tugbe Chie’s (CDC Senator) campaign, a copy of which is in this Reporter’s possession.

The Grand Kru County Health Officer had since acknowledged and accepted his appointment while vowed a robust campaign to reelect the Grand Kru Senator Albert Tugbe Chie.

Dr. Wreh’s acceptance message to the people of Grand Kru County regarding this, states:

“Until anyone can provide the section of the Code of Conduct that my appointment has violated as a civil servant, I wholeheartedly accept my appointment as a Coordinator for Professional Stakeholders on the indefatigable team of Prof. Albert Tugbe Chie.”

“For y’all information, I am not an appointee of the President but a civil servant, noting law is the law, so let’s use the law against me and not mere sentiments replete with cheap propaganda,” he (Dr. Woyee Wreh) challenged.

The Grand Kru County Health Officer continued: “Long live the three Hebrew brothers in H.E. Dr. George Forkay Klondike Jlahleh Gbekugbeh Tarpeh Manneh Saykozie Weah, Protemp, Prof. Albert Tugbe Chie and Deputy Speaker Hon. Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa on a ONE ROUND VICTORY.”

Dr.  J. Woyee Wreh has since begun appearing on local radio Talkshow massively campaigning for the three state men in Grand Kru County.

Meanwhile, the Chair for the Liberia Medical and Dental Council, Dr. Benetta Andrews has said even though there is no laws or policies that prevents medical doctors from campaigning for a particular candidate, it is ethically wrong because those who attend the health facilities are from different political institutions.

 

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