Major Lines To The President: This Thing Is Defeatable, Your Excellency

Dear President George Fortaykloh Jlahdeh Gbakugbeh Tarpeh Manneh Weah:

My attention has been drawn to a recent statement you made regarding the fight against corruption, a plague which, during your inauguration, you openly pledged to fight.

The Monday, 20th August 2018 edition of the FrontPageAfrica clearly quotes you, My President, thus: “TO FIGHT CORRUPTION IS DIFFICULT BECAUSE EVERYBODY IS CONNECTED SOMEHOW IN THE COUNTRY.”

I do not know if you thought of this, but that singular statement attributed to you clearly shows that you have given up on the fight against corruption in Liberia. It shows that you have failed the people and shows that you have lost the war on graft in government, Mr. President.

That statement by you, Mr. President, indicates that you may have become too familiar and casual with those you employ in your government to the extent that prosecuting them will ruin your relationship with them and their relatives known to you.

But no! A leader’s resolve to maintain his integrity and the integrity of his administration is more important than the unprofitable friendships that keep a country wallowing in the backwaters of underdevelopment.

Anyone who can tell you your faults to your face in private and show you how to do the right things and live by your words, that person is your true friend. Other than that, the rest are mere gravy seekers as long as they are not helping you to actualize your promises to Liberians in real time.

Mr. President, the fight against corruption is a fight which we can win. Yes, We Can Beat It! Every problem has a solution and every menace has a cure. Take a leaf from Ghana and Sierra Leone in their fight against corruption which is gaining results by employing people with Integrity into government, and not the same old people.

If, according to you, “everybody is connected somehow” in Liberia, that means the fight against corruption is one we can win. Especially if we take the approach of China.

Mr. President, in China, if your relative is an official of government who is corrupt and you refuse to report it until he/she is caught, all of you will be put on firing squad. That may be too harsh, but we can employ a more subtle approach to make sure we hold each other accountable.

Your Excellency, whether or not you made that statement, what you do from now on regarding the fight against corruption will prove your actual stance on the matter for the world to see.

We believe in your willpower. Liberians know you can if you put your mind to it. It is possible, Mr. President. You started by appointment some who truly have integrity into government. Continue to appoint more people of the same pedigree and success is sure.

Yours Artistically

Major DahnSaw

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