By our Staff Writer
The Liberian Christian cleric, who served as a spiritual Advisor to President-elect George Weah during the recent election campaign, has stressed that citizens elected him and his officials to provide urgent solutions to the problems confronting the nation.
As member of the Joint Presidential Transition Team, the Liberian cleric noted that all of the reports received from outgoing officials only spoke of challenges with no prospects.
Bishop Emeritus Matthew T. Gweh of the Evangelical Congregational Church in Monrovia said Weah, his deputy Jewel Howard Taylor and all other officials must see their task as an emergency and not delay in delivering on the promises made during the campaign.
In a sermon preached during inaugural intercessory service held at the Centennial Memorial Pavilion in Monrovia on Sunday, Bishop Gweh noted that Liberia has jumped to various stages but has refused to grow.
He told the congregation, comprising outgoing President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and her deputy Joseph Boakia and incoming President and Vice President George Weah and Jewel Howard Taylor, that Liberia is being left behind by other African nations, though it has made history by producing the first elected female President, the World, Africa and European Best Footballer of the year.
Now, Bishop Gweh said Liberia has again made history by jumping again to produce the world’s first professional footballer to become President.
He described Liberians as a unique people in the world but instead of growing for the past 170 years of existence as a Republic, this country has jumped, leading to a lack of stabilization.
“Let’s stop jumping and grow this time,” the Liberian cleric cautioned Weah and his officials.
According to the Evangelical Church’ Bishop, “instead of being a sovereign nation after 170 years, we are suffering.”
He said from the inception of Liberia’s first President Joseph Jenkins Roberts in 1847 to that of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s, the mantra of all the governments have been “don’t expect too much too soon.”
But the Liberian cleric told Weah and his incoming officials that the time for this mantra is over.
“I tell you Mr. President, We are expecting everything now,” Bishop Gweh said.
And he added, “We are not going to spare you, we want everything now because you are the country giant. We want solution and we want it now. What you want to do, do it now.”
Bishop Goweh then reminded Weah that leaders are to provide solutions to problems and not to provide excuses.
“If you want to cry baby, that that place (Executive Mansion) is not for cry baby, If you want to be one, don’t bother to go there tomorrow,” the man who prophesized the victory of the Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) said.
He described Weah as the Biblical Moses who God has chosen to redeem Liberia by bringing positive change and assured him that God will not abandon him and leave him in the middle of the river.
Emphasizing the urgency of the new government’s task, Bishop Gweh said “Liberia is a problem country and a problem state” and the problems need urgent solutions, warning that the hopes of the people are fading away.
“We are very tired. Our hope are about dead,” he reminded Weah and his corps of incoming officials.
The Liberian cleric said one of the first task of the Weah administration is to fight corruption.
“Corruption has to go because the country giant is around,” he said.
The Evangelical preacher told Weah that he has a charge to perform and he can’t do it alone but in concert with the Vice President, legislators and the Judiciary.
He pointed out that the challenges are not insurmountable so they should not be used them as excuse.
Immediately upon taking office on January 22, 2018, Bishop Gweh said Weah must dismiss procrastination and delay.
He said procrastination plus delay have over the years led to failure in the performance of Liberian government officials.
For example, he said improvement in the lives of the people of West Point cannot wait.
Among all the politicians, the Liberian cleric noted that Weah is the only one who understands the urgency of Liberia’s situation.
“Treat emergency with urgency,” he urged the incoming 51-year-old Liberian President.
He then warned Weah that “if the children cannot see papa coming home in the next six year, the children themselves will become papa.”
Bishop Gweh emphasized that what Liberians need is for Weah and his new government to now.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Liberian cleric called on incoming President Weah to count on the experience of the current Director General of the General Services Agency (GSA) Madam Mary Broh to tutor his officials into expediting their task.
“Mr. President elect, you can make it because God is the one that chose you,” Bishop Gweh said.
He called on the United Nations and international community to provide immediate support Liberia.