The Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE) has elected new officials to steer the affairs of the party, with a call for unity among opposition political parties to checkmate and keep the Unity Party (UP) led-government of President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s feet to the fire to govern in the interest of Liberia and its citizens.
By Obediah Johnson
Ambassador Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah was overwhelmingly elected and inducted as the Political Leader and Standard Bearer of MOVEE at its Third National Convention held at the Baptist Seminary in Paynesville, outside Monrovia on Thursday, November 28.
Speaking shortly after his induction, Ambassador Kemayah observed that every opposition political party is a government in waiting and as such, MOVEE remains prepared and unbending to support the re-election of Mr. George Manneh Weah in the 2029 general and presidential elections.
He said in the midst of societal ills in Liberian society, MOVEE will continue to champion the need to uphold the tenets of democracy, including the rule of law by the government.
He added that as an opposition political party, MOVEE cannot “trade peace for anything else”, noting that “in the absence of peace, we wouldn’t have been here.”
“We are a part of opposition political parties and together as opposition, we can move this country forward; we can hold the government’s feet to the fire. I am the Political Leader and Standard Bearer of MOVEE, but His Excellency Dr. George Manneh Weah is our grand Political Leader and Standard Bearer. We will support him-my family, myself, this party.”
Ambassador Kemayah further pointed out that despite his election, MOVEE remains a constituent member of the former ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) and ex-President Weah remains their presidential candidate come 2029.
He observed that the growing wave of societal ills Liberians are experiencing under the UP led-government of President Boakai is making it “easier” for Mr. Weah to return to the Liberian presidency.
He disclosed that the party’s media roundtable would be launched shortly to speak against the countless numbers of societal ills in Liberian society.
Ambassador Kemayah encouraged those elected and inducted to exhibit selfless leadership by seeing themselves as servants and not “masters” to those who elected them to power.
He observed that the forward match of the party would require the “collective and comprehensive effort of everyone,” adding that, “the party belongs to all of us.”
“Divides will not do us any good as a party. Together we will stand; together MOVEE is moving forward. The Liberian people-our partisans and well-wishers expect high of us and look to us. As long as we are humans, there will be differences. But let us use constructive means to resolve our issues and dissatisfactions.”
Ambassador Kemayah urged executives, partisans and supporters of the party to always trend the path of engagement and adequately play their respective roles in moving the party forward.
He, however, vowed to justify the confidence reposed in him by the delegates at the convention to lead the party.
He stressed that as enshrined in the motto of the party, poverty should not be a destiny for any Liberian.
Ambassador Kemayah used the occasion to commend the convention committee, ad-hoc elections committee, constitution review committee and the delegates, amongst others for properly planning and executing their assigned tasks and responsibilities which led to the successful conduct of the party’s Third National Emergency Convention.
For his part, the Director for Political Affairs at the National Elections Commission (NEC) Ignatius Wesseh heaped praises on the leadership of MOVEE and delegates for the peaceful conduct of the convention.
He observed that all activities and proceedings at the convention were orderly executed, noting that every democratic system evolves its own convention.
He noted that the holding of conventions and elections is a driving force to promoting good democracy.
“The commission wants to wish you well and hope that MOVEE will continue to follow those democratic tenets and procedures that will improve our democratic landscape in Liberia.”
Meanwhile, those elected and inducted along with Ambassador Kemayah are: Prince Mehn (National Chairman), Abraham S. Nyemah (National Vice Chair for Administration), Johnson Weah (National Vice Chair for Mobilization, Recruitment and Membership), Jeremiah Edison Paye (National Secretary General), Samuel Coleman (National Vice Chair for Communications and Media Relations, Darius Doe (National Vice Chair for Inter-Party and NEC Affairs), K. Matthew Shan, Sr (National Vice Chair for International Affairs), Rosetta Jones (National Vice Chair for Governmental Affairs), Jenkins Nagbe (National Vice Chair for Planning, Policy and Research), J. Aston Holder (National Treasurer), and Jacqueline C. Lee (National Vice Chair for Gender, Auxiliaries and Marginalized).
Others are: Atty. Roland Bishop Doe (National Vice Chair for Legal Affairs), Yassah Zubawou (National Vice Chair for Resource Mobilization), Bill Harris (National Deputy Secretary General), David M. Darwokolor (Assistant National Secretary for Records and Documentation), Miatta Massaquoi (Assistant National Secretary for Gender, Auxxiliaries and Marginaized), Spencer Peters (Assistant National Secretary for Inter-Party and NEC Affairs), Robertson Nyengbeh (Assistant National Secretary for Communications and Media Relations), Isaiah Johnson (Assistant National Secretary for Mobilization, Recruitment and Membership), Helena Wah (Assistant National Secretary for Governmental Affairs), Mercy Suah (Assistant Secretary for Resource Mobilization), and Winston Gray (National Youth League Chair).
The party also elected and inducted Angeline Gborie (National Women League Chair), John Nyan (National Assistant Secretary for Finance), Evelyn Kumeh (National Assistant Secretary for International Affairs), Atty. Susan Johnson (National Assistant Secretary for Legal Affairs), and Evangeline Jones (National Chaplain), amongst others.
Amendments to the party’s constitution proffered by a Review Committee headed by its newly elected and inducted Secretary General Jeremiah Edison Paye, were also endorsed by the delegates.
The convention ended the internal wrangling which popped up within the party shortly after the 2023 general and presidential elections, following an open apology from few executives and officials who were previously suspended and expelled from MOVEE for violating the party’s by-laws and constitution.