PHOTO: Former Pres. Taylor and current Pres. Weah
By M. Neywon Mengonfia- mmenginfia@gmail.com
President George M. Weah failed to respond to what was considered as a strong and strange request made by a citizen of Margibi County during the second day of the third leg of his tour.
On Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the president started his meeting with citizens of Margibi County where he held discussions with citizens of the Cotton Tree Community and later moved to Duazon in lower Margibi and had seminal talks with his people in that part of the County.
The President also on his second day of the third leg engagement with citizens, he dedicated water to a facility in Kakata, a radio station in Cotton Tree Community and a school annex in Charlesville.
During the president’s discussion with citizens of the County, they made many requests and he responded to their quests point by point, but one request which was considered strange and strong was not responded to.
It was like strange when a lady Known as Blessing Tarphat from the Christian Community took to the stage and requested that the Liberian Government set up a specialized committee to pay a visit to wherever jailed former Liberian President is servicing his jail sentence.
She suggested to the president that the committee should comprise all religious leaders in Liberia who will pay an official visit to the jailed former president, Charles Taylor.
It can be recalled that former Liberian President, Charles Ghankay Taylor was found guilty in April 2012 of all eleven charges levied by the Special Court, including terror, murder and rape.
With LURD rebel forces besieging Monrovia in August 2003, former President Taylor resigned and went into exile in Nigeria, from where he was later arrested few years later and charged with with fueling the civil war in neighbouring Sierra Leone.
In May 2012, Taylor was sentenced to 50 years in prison and since his incarceration; many Liberians have said that the former Liberian leader has been abandoned by the government and people of the Country.
But Blessing Tarphat in her request said former President Taylor is a former leader and should be accorded such respect as a former Liberian head of state.
President Weah did not say if he will set up the committee or if the request of the lady is not anything to be considered by the Liberian government.