Gbarnga, Bong County – The superintendent of Bong County, Esther Walker, has warned she would sack any employee of the Ministry of Internal Affairs (MIA) assigned in the county who will form part of the planned December 30 ‘Weah Step Down’ protest.
During a press conference Friday, Superintendent Walker said, staff who would “support or participate” in the protest would face disciplinary action that “could be serious and may include termination of employment”.
Superintendent Walker also threatened to dismiss any employee of the MIA in the county who will affiliate with any member of the Council of Patriots.
Superintendent Walker’s press conference was in response to rumors that some employees of the MIA were planning to abandon their jobs to form part of the protest on Monday.
“We are obliged to abide by the Constitution of Liberia. The planned December 30 protest calling for President George Weah to step down is unconstitutional and should not be embraced by any Liberian who wants to see the country move forward,” Superintendent Walker said.
Continuing, she added: “There will be disciplinary consequences for employees who work for the Ministry of Internal Affairs in Bong County who will support or participate in the protest. These consequences could be serious and may include termination of employment.”
Asked whether her statement was a directive from President Weah, Superintendent Walker replied: “No!”
Businesses to shut down in Bong on Monday
The list of businesses in Bong County planning to close on Monday continued to grow.
Multiple businesses in the Gbarnga area that would normally be open on Monday, including the Bong Shopping Center, Paulma’s Business Center, Hindweh Business Center will be closed.
On Friday, December 27, 2019, the manager of Bong Shopping Center, Hikmat Barbar, said. “in preparation of the protest on Monday, December 30, 2019, my store will be closed to the public. The safety of my goods is my concern”.