GBOWEE ON ELLEN’S BACK AGAIN Published on July 31, 2013 Madam Leymah Roberta Gbowee Nobel laureate Leymah Gbowee has again spoken in strong terms against what she terms as the weak link emanating from her co-Nobel laureate President Ellen J. Sirleaf in the fight against corruption .Speaking on a local radio talk show, the Truth Breakfast Show on Truth 96.1, Madam Gbowee averred that officials of government were more careful in perpetrating corruption until Madam Sirleaf appointed her son Robert Sirleaf as the Chairman of the Board of the lucrative National Oil Company of Liberia.According to Madam Gbowee, since Mr Sirleaf was appointed to the post in 2010, more officials have become callous in perpetrating corruption as they harbor the perception that the President will be weak in dealing with them for wrong doing as her son may also be culpable. The Nobel laureate said people will only consider the fight against corruption as being serious only if President Sirleaf can dismiss her son from the oil company or ask him to resign.She however hailed the President for dismissing Auditor General Robert Kilby and General Services Agency boss Pearine Parkerson but recommended that they should be prosecuted for their wrong doing.Madam Gbowee noted that dismissals are not enough to tackle corruption but they should be backed by concrete legal actions.She also called for the General Auditing Commission to be empowered so that it becomes robust like the days when the anti-graft body was run by its former boss John Morlu. But speaking in reaction, Presidential Spokesman Jerolinmek Piah described Madam Gbowee’s criticisms as pointless and cynical.Mr Piah who acknowledged Madam Gbowee’s right to free speech noted that it was cynical for her to tie down the efforts made by government in the fight against government to a single individual who also has the constitutional right to work in Liberia.He said the government has established and empowered anti-corruption institutions in the country that are now functional, wondering how the Nobel laureate would miss such key point. Mr Piah stressed that the President plays her part by dismissing allegedly corrupt officials and it is up to the justice system to ensure that substantial evidence is gathered to have them prosecuted.According to Mr Piah, the President would not hold the hands of corrupt officials and drag them to court but that the justice system has to function properly to ensure that such officials are legally dealt with.
Posted on: Wed, 31 Jul 2013 17:49:20 +0000
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