Minnesota, USA – Speaking at the recently ended Alternative National Congress (ANC) Global Midwest convention, the leader of the political party warned unsuspecting party members to think twice about following him and the ANC if they intend to behave corruptly against Liberia. The ANC leader, Alexander B. Cummings, stated that, although he wishes to garner the support of Liberians on his quest to the nation’s presidency, he also wants to invoke in their minds a balanced reality that age-old corrupt behaviors will not be tolerated in his administration.
Report by Adrienne Tingba, Contributor
This statement from the ANC leader comes in wake of the current rapid economic decline that is plaguing Liberia, which many have attributed to repetitive and unprosecuted corrupt behaviors allegedly perpetrated by the nation’s elected and appointed leaders over the years. These corrupt behaviors from elected and appointed officials have proven to be major impediments to otherwise potentially great government agendas – Namely, former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s Liberia Rising 2030, and current President George Weah’s Pro-Poor Agenda – which have both been overpowered by corrupt behaviors from officials in their governments. As such, the former Coca-Cola Executive continued his stern warning to ANC partisans with a quote from Albert Einstein, saying;
“You cannot keep doing the same things expecting different results.” As such, he continued, “if we continue to elect leaders with the same mindsets, behaviors, and experiences, we cannot expect a different Liberia. “
On the other hand, the three-day convention, hosted between September 6-8, brought together hopeful Liberians from around the Midwest USA; including, Minnesota, Illinois, Iowa, North Dakota, and even some from Europe. The convention served as a space for interactive political dialogue among diaspora Liberians within, and seeking interest in the ANC party. Paramount in those dialogues, were many of the challenges currently facing Liberia, as well as those facing the internal and external functions of the ANC party. Additionally, focal to the discussions were current and potential ANC members looking to their leader, Alexander B. Cummings, for proof that he does indeed have what it takes to lead both their beloved ANC party, and Liberia.
To those wondering eyes and ears, Cummings solidified his standing in their hearts and minds, saying;
“We (Liberians) are better than the country we have. When you look at all the firsts and accomplishments of Liberia and Liberians, the country we currently have does not reflect that.”
The ANC leader went on to say; “We don’t have a country that reflects the resilience, ingenuity, and tenacity of the Liberian people, but I think we can have that with the right leadership inspired by the willingness to do the work required”.
Meanwhile, the country Liberians do currently have is one which continues to grow more politically divided, seemingly forgetting where such divisions have once upon a time taken the country. Likewise, it is a country that is at yet another crossroad which appears to place the needs of the government above that of those being governed, especially with the current issue of harmonization in the government’s payroll.
The government of Liberia is the biggest employer in the entire country, making this decision of harmonization a potentially major impediment to the civil servants who are already suffering at the hands of the depressive state in which the Liberian economy finds itself. In that regard, the ANC leader stated;
“I fundamentally disagree with the “harmonization”. I think the government should not be the net employer in the country; the private sector should be.”
He went on to say; “As a result of the government’s mismanagement, bad decisions, ineptitude, and incompetence, it is now resulting on sort of punishing the civil servants by “harmonizing” their salaries.”
“So, I fundamentally disagree with that, and think that we should go back to making sure we are running the country well, managing the economy, creating private sector jobs, and paying civil servants appropriate wages for the contributions they are making to our country”. He continued.
While Cummings insisted throughout the weekend that his purpose at the convention was not to discuss the already-known challenges facing Liberia, nor bad mouth the current Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) led government, he ensured that his purpose was to encourage his partisans’ understanding of their role in disbanding those challenges and impacting growth in the country.
Meanwhile, Cummings remains under government’s scrutiny for his failure to attend the September 6, 2019 National Economic Dialogue, an initiative by the Weah-led government as a means of hearing citizen’s feedback on potential economic growth opportunities that could quickly and positively impact Liberia’s depreciating economy.