…And so Liberians, we are celebrating 163 years of existence?

By: Stephen Johnson

When I woke up that morning and found out it was the 26th [Independence Day] I sat on my bed in retrospect of our 163 years of existence as a country and people and it brought memories about what have we really achieved or what can we point out as an example for others to follow? While pondering on answers to these many questions and much more, I realized that we have a lot to show besides being one of the oldest African republics.

We, in the contemporary time have done something many countries the world over can use as a model. We have elected Africa’s first female president- something which bigger powers are still finding answers to. We have had our debts waived in a relatively short period of time through the HIPC Initiative, we have seen roads rehabilitated and constructed, we have seen electricity and pipe borne water, we have seen civil servant salaries being disbursed on a timely bases, we have seen a professional military-a place of upward career mobility. While we have seen the many goods, we have also seen the menace corruption eating the economic fabric of our nation. We have seen people build mansions and skyscrapers, we have seen them ride in luxury and style, we have seen them shop from the best, we have seen them, oh yes! We have seen them.

While we remain to see good and evil, we can safely say that as a people we will definitely triumph over evil and build for ourselves a society where we can actualize our God given potential and make amends where necessary. For it is only by doing this we can set nation building and national renewal on the right pathway. We can either choose to sit and watch or we can take our destiny in our own hands. Be it a reality or imagined, we have a crucial role to play in our quest for genuine reform in a postwar economy like ours. We must put nationalism above greed, we must put patriotism above self and love for country must reign supreme above all else. We must and will not fail mama Liberia, our dearest patrimony!

Again and again we must constantly remind ourselves that we have a role to play and said role is pivotal to the communal relationship we envisage if we so desire to grapple upon the many challenges and turn them into opportunities, and as Sir Isaac Newton clearly postulated, “if I have seen further than other men, it is because I have been standing on the shoulders of giants”, we must indeed see ourselves as the giant upon whose shoulders we can succeed. We must be seen as a partner in progress, we must be seen as assets and not liabilities. We must be seen as an integral part in our quest to transform the lives of our fellow compatriots. Yes! We must be seen as a collective force which drives our developmental agenda.

“When freedom raised her glowing form on Montserrado's verdant height, She set within the doom of night, ‘midst low ring stars and thunderstorms the star of liberty - and seizing from the waking morn, its burnished shield of golden flame she lifted in her proud name and raise a people long forlorn to noble destiny”.

THE LONE STAR AND LIBERIA FOREVER…!

Elections 2011, The Liberian story: Blessing or curse?

By: Stephen Johnson

As 2011 dawns, many new faces will emerge in an attempt to lure the people of Liberia in getting them elected into public offices. What remains a question is the simple fact as to whether these aspirants have what it takes to lead a country emerging out of years of total backwardness and massive underdevelopment. The challenges are quite enormous and herculean and it must be addressed by people with brittle characters coupled with the requisite credential and love for country-for it is only by having these values can one run an effective and efficient administration.

They have begun making promises, engaging in community work, spewing out ill-gotten wealth and claiming to be the true representatives of a group of people with little or no education-Hence their ability to think critically is affected by their desire for handouts. They are not in hiding for we see them every day along the streets of Monrovia beating their chest that no matter what, they are the winner, be it imagined or a reality, it is only but important that we engage our people in a massive awareness campaign which incorporates the grassroots movement with a rather rude awakening. I have heard names evolving, I have also heard organizations popping out, I have heard coalitions, I have seen crossover and unwholesome marriages, discovered strange bedfellows, I have witnessed meetings but what I have not seen is a clear defined agenda for Liberia in the years to come.

These conditions only pinpoint to the fact that we more concerned with getting elected rather than putting those who elect us first. We are only concerned with the gains and the benefits rather than the development of the communities we represent. We are more concerned with the luxury and royalties, fancy cars and flashing billboards rather than salary improvement for the ordinary civil servant and their families, we are more interested in the accolades rather than giving praises to those who truly deserves it [the people]. We are more fascinated about the social successes rather than a robust strategy geared towards self actualization. We are more prone on creating more beggars rather than making more people empowered. We enjoyed the “Yes Manism” rather than been called servants.

If we must have a radical shift in the paradigm from the past, we must begin to change the way we see things and form a common front, with a single goal, and a clear strategy which engenders the development and empowerment of our people, we must engage them in sustained programs and provide for them the basic necessities of life. For too long we expect too much from our people when in reality, we haven’t done much to bring them to the level where we all can hold hands and march towards success. So, as we go to the polls come 2011, let us bear in mind that the future of our country is at stick and we must, must and must do what is right for the betterment of mama Liberia. It’s our common denominator and all we have; we must together preserve it and prepare a safe haven for our future generation(s).

Together we will and YES WE CAN…!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Quest for Political Power: A need for Change!

By: Stephen Johnson

The quest for national leadership and political power has been an issue that has engulfed the Liberian state since its inception. This quest has lead to series of brutal civil crises which claimed the lives of millions of our people. This conflict did not only destroy the socio-economic political fabric of the society, but also shattered the family and community networks and the social services that are crucial in constructing a foundation for sustained growth.

It created a nation polarized with individual who are bend on enriching themselves at the expense of the mass of people and yet they see themselves as the true leader of a group of impoverished people. These political and fortune hunters continue to masquerade in the corridors of power with the sole purpose of amassing wealth and building flashy homes and attractive bank balances overseas while the country lies in filths and mass underdevelopment, illiteracy, and poverty.

They lack any form of nationalism and or patriotism to the country, they literally see Liberia as a farmland where they can come, hustle and flee thus giving creed to the 3 Gs theory which is simply, the get, grab and go mentality. This mentality has eaten the very fabric of love for country thereby rendering our people to be reduced to mere beggars surviving on less than fifty United States cents a day and handouts.

Our people continue to live in the airtight cages of poverty and unendurable sufferings while a few, very few live in extreme luxury-something which violates the concept of equal distribution of wealth in economics. This sharp economic disparity has resulted to a collapse in the social support system such as education, food, security and health. The accumulation of these risk factors has condemned people into a vicious cycle of poverty and social exclusion thereby making them vulnerable for recruit into groups for banditry (the youth especially).

For too long, true leadership has eluded our people, for too long, our people continue to suffer. It is about time that we develop a renewed sense of love for country especially as Liberia goes through this period of speedy Risorgimento; this desire must be buttressed by a high level of volunteerism and developing the concept of ownership. We must take charge of our own destiny and do it with vigor and fortitude while shifting the paradigm.

Long Live Liberia! Long Live the People of Liberia! May God bless the works of our hands and save our common patrimony, LIBERIA!

Youth Development in Liberia (An excerpt).

By: Stephen Johnson

Liberia's youth face many challenges in gaining an education either through academic or vocation that delivers them the right set of skills and knowledge demanded to become productive in today's labor market. As a result, the transition from school to work is more often than not unsuccessful such that youth end up either unemployed or underemployed in the rural, suburban and urban informal sectors.

To address these different phenomenons, I have first presented an overview about the importance of human capital in the labor market integration process before turning to the current situation being faced by Liberian youth. Based on these and many significant contributions, recommendations for policies are outlined highlighting the responses national Government and policymakers need to take in order to address the many problems and this must be done with overriding priority.

In the situation where youth are unable to make the much needed transition to the workforce after completing either academic or vocational training, government must ensure an active labor market initiative which target the youth with the requisite training and other measures that would adequately prepare them for job readiness. Ignoring these issues will only result to a sharp decrease in economic growth plus its indirectly related outcomes such as violence, conflict, mass illiteracy and poor health care etc, etc. Developing a robust educational and employment program which creates opportunity for Liberian youth must now become a significant priority of the government of Liberia.