Monrovia – Janjay Baikpeh, the Chairman of an advocacy group, Cry for Justice, has postponed its Nationwide protest from April 6 to May 7, to ensure that the public trust remains uncompromising.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh (0886729972)[email protected]
Speaking to journalists in Monrovia, the group calling itself Liberia’s first post war pressure group said they seek to hold the national government and other stakeholders accountable to the Liberian people.
Baikpeh said: “We earlier announced the infamous April 6, as the date for our assembly, but because of much broader consultations, we have resolved to carry out our peaceful action following the first 100 days of the Boakai-led administration. Therefore, the new date for our nationwide action is now Tuesday, May 7, 2024. As stated before, this is a constitutionally guaranteed exercise.”
He added: “Our singular objective is to call the Boakai administration to immediate order for showing little respect for the rule of law, extrajudicial killings, police brutality, early bribery by the executive, witch hunt at line ministries and agencies of government, lack of accountability on spending public money and the creation of more unemployment at this early stage of their administration. The nation-wide assembly and protest action will be held at designated locations across the country that will send a resounding message against misrule.”
The group listed Bomi County, Clay Checkpoint, Tubmanburg to Monrovia, Tubmanburg to Sawmill, DC Clark Town (Sueh Mecca/Gbarpolu Road), and Po-River Bridge as some of the places the protest will be staged. Baikpeh added that Monrovia will not be the only place the protest will be staged.
According to Baikpeh, the forefathers of Liberia wrote a constitution that all embraced, and the President and other officials of government took an oath of office to uphold and defend such a constitution.
The constitution, he says frowns on nepotism and demands the national government to protect every citizen irrespective of political affiliation adding that it is not the case with the current administration.
He said: “With just less than 100 days in office, the so-called Rescue Mission is already removing employees from various government payrolls, including civil servants and contractors at various government ministries and agencies. The former government without downsizing incorporated more than 2000 health workers from the health pool fund in 2018, and about 900 health workers who were paid under the USAID FARA Funding.”
Beikpkeh added: “These workers excluded about 3,600 supplementary teachers and other 200 supplementary workers who earned a maximum monthly gross of US$40 but were also permanently transferred to the main payroll of the Ministries of Education and Health. These employees now earned a minimum of US$150-175 gross and have been full civil servants since 2020; enjoying all the privileges and rights consistent with the civil Service Standing Orders.”
“With all these interventions, the past administration carried out its pay reforms, incorporated these Liberian workers without removing any of the existing employees during the first regime of the Unity Party while maintaining the wage bill of US$297millions up to 2022,” he said.
