Ganta, Nimba County – Amid great fanfare and trepidation, the Alternative National Congress (ANC), held its third National Convention in Ganta, Nimba County on May 3 to 4 2019.
Organized under the theme, “The Alternative Liberia Deserves,” the Convention brought together representatives from every nook and cranny of Liberia’s 15 counties.
In his opening remarks, Cllr. Lafayette Horatio Gould, the former Chairman of the ANC, said that the party has made great strides since its founding just five years. Chairman Gould, who did not seek re-election, credited the growth and new dynamism of the party to the political leader, Mr. Alexander B. Cummings. He praised Mr. Cummings for infusing a new blood in the political institution.
The Convention was to elect a new corps of officers at all levels of the party.
The Executive Director of the National Elections Commission (NEC), who attended the program to oversee the electoral process, praised the party for being one of the very few political institutions that did not and have not stopped working after elections.
Several guests took to the podium to congratulate the party and its vision. Among those who spoke where Montserrado County’s District #10 Representative Yekeh Kolubah, who recently joined the collaboration of the four main opposition parties as well as Representatives Samuel Korgar of Nimba County’s District #5, who became a member of ANC. Also speaking at the program was Mr. Wilmot Paye, Chairman of the former ruling Unity Party. Mr. Paye extended greetings to the Convention on behalf of the Collaborating Opposition Parties. He praised ANC for its dynamism and the important role it is playing in the opposition and the Collaboration.
At the end of the electoral process which lasted till almost midnight, several officers were either re-elected or maintained their former positions.
Among the new corps of officers was Senator Daniel Naatehn from Gbarpolu County. Also elected were a New Secretary General, Mr. Aloysius Toe and Mr. Fubbi Henries as Treasurer.
Speaking on behalf of the new governing body, Mr. Alexander B. Cummings, who retained his position as Political Leader, expressed gratitude to all ANC’s partisans for entrusting him with the leadership of the party. He assured the partisans that he will do everything in his capacity to walk the party to victory in 2023 as the ANC is the Alternative Liberia Deserves.
In his speech that was interrupted by several thunderous applauses, Mr. Cummings underlined several key policy ideas that would pave the road to political power and allow the party to transform the nation into a land of opportunity for all Liberians, a country where no woman should die giving birth to a child nor any person to die of preventable disease for lack of medication.
Even though the ANC’s Political Leader spoke of how glaring it is now that the Liberian government has no solution to the mounting problems that confront the nation today, he told Liberians that all hope is not lost. “We have provided solutions and will continue to provide solutions to this government as I have done tonight, but the ball is in their court to accept our solutions as we all endeavor to make our country better. The Alternative Liberia Deserves; the ANC envisions a developed, productive and prosperous nation. Our vision is to break from the past backed by the preparedness to do things differently in order to put our economy back on track. We urge you not to despair, wither or succumb to hopelessness. As The Alternative, we will maintain our principle to innovate and do things differently. We need all hands on deck to make Liberia great again. You can do it, we can do it, Liberia, surely can do it.”
The ANC leader also made several policy proposals which could help the current administration to alleviate the current economic difficulties faced by the people of Liberia. Among other measures, Mr. Cummings called for an end to the massive looting and stealing of state wealth by leaders of the President George Weah-led administration. He called for the institution of transparency and accountability at all levels of government as well as adherence to the Constitution of the Republic of Liberia. He said although Liberians have given many names to corruption, they are still enduring its negative impacts on their lives.
As part of the side events, Mr. Cummings also paid a courtesy visit with the Chief Imam of Nimba County, Imam Kieta, who prayed for him, for the ANC Family and for peace in Liberia.
The convention was inter-spiced by traditional dancers, who performed dancing from various counties. Meanwhile, other individuals elected to the National Executive Committee (NEC) include Josiah Asher Kennedy, Vice Chairman for Administration; Ms. Musu Sanoe, Chairlady of the Women Congress; Ms. Victoria Koiquah, Vice Chairlady of the Women Congress; Mr. Nyanke Hodge, Vice Chairman for Operations; Grand Bassa County Representative Thomas Goshua, Vice Chairman for Political and International Affairs; Mr. Ulyses Barchue, Vice Chairman for Inter-party and Governmental Affairs; Mr. Garbee Pewee, Vice Chairman for Finance and Investment; Mr. Jonathan Dolakeh, Deputy National Secretary General; Mr. Benjamin Myers, Chairman of the Youth Congress; Mr. James Morris, Vice Chairman of the Youth Congress; and Mr. Mulbah Kessely, Secretary General of the Youth Congress. The National Executive Committee of the ANC also appointed Cllr. Beyan Howard, Representative of Lofa County, as its Vice Chairman for Legal Affairs.
