President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s recent appointment of Alioune Kebe as Ambassador at Large for Youth and Sports Development has been heavily criticized by stakeholders and executives within the sector.
By: Christopher C Walker [email protected] 0777898224/0886723075
In an appointment letter dated April 10, 2024, which was also confirmed by Presidential Press Secretary Kula Fofana, the Senegalese national, among other things, was appointed for his dedication and contribution to sports development in Liberia and his invaluable contribution to the training of youth in Liberia. However, stakeholders and executives within the sector argue that Mr. Kebe has never worked to help improve the sector and has not made any tangible contribution to sports development in Liberia, contrary to what was mentioned in the appointment letter by President Boakai.
The stakeholders believe that President Boakai was misled and also alleged that the former Senegalese national’s appointment was based on his alleged link with the Political Advisor to President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, Macdela Cooper, something we cannot independently verify. According to investigations, Kebe has a share in former Liberian goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman’s goalkeeper academy. The academy was previously named Sham Hands Professional Goalkeeping Academy, but after negotiations, the academy’s name was changed to Kebe Goalkeeper Academy. Kebe does not own the Kebe Goalkeeper’s Academy, contrary to what has been circulating in the local media; rather, it is owned by former national team goalkeeper Nathaniel Sherman, who is finalizing documentation for Kebe to have a share in the academy.
The controversial appointee has been struggling to find a club to buy in the top flight of Liberian football and was turned down by Freeport FC when he tried to buy it. It is also alleged by the stakeholders that President Boakai doesn’t really know Kebe and that an alleged close official in his office is the one pushing Kebe for the position.
Born on November 24, 1984, Alioune Kébé is a former Senegalese football striker. According to reports, Kebe is the owner of Senegalese club Mayacine Foot Centre but does not have a club nor any sports-related investment in Liberia.
The angry sports stakeholders also blasted the controversial appointment by the Liberian leader, calling it an indirect slap in their faces. “We have several ex-professionals who are overly qualified and competent to occupy such positions. Why are we here, looking for jobs, when we are more qualified than the President, who is looking for foreigners and aliens to give them jobs to do?” the angry stakeholders of the sporting sector asked, not wanting their names to be disclosed to our reporter.
There are also speculations in the corridors that there are heavy political undertones and weight behind Kebe’s appointment as he appears untouchable. But the stakeholders frowned upon it, stating that it is a bad start for the sector under the Boakai administration and an unfortunate one for an administration that brags that they will not do business as usual. “If this is what it means not to do business as usual, then we are in a completely different mess altogether,” they re-emphasized.
As the criticism of President Boakai’s Kebe appointment continues in the sporting sector, the Ministry of Youth and Sports is said to be battling a budget support crisis. It can be recalled that on Wednesday, April 24, 2024, the Minister of Youth and Sports, Cllr. Jeror Cole Bangalu, appeared at the Budget hearing at the National Legislature through the joint budget committee to justify reasons why it is crucial for the Ministry to experience an increment in its budget unlike before. According to investigations, the current budget of the Youth and Sports Ministry is projected at $2,998,201 United States dollars, something Minister Bangalu wants to increase, especially due to several different programs and components associated with the Ministry, including sports, youth development, vocational and technical education, as well as skills training, respectively. However, it can be recalled that the Fiscal Year 2023 budget was in the tune of $6,862,801 United States dollars.
PSIP COASTAL SANITATION PROJECT – $1,000,000; RENOVATION OF SPORTS FACILITY (FLOOD LIGHTS) – $500,000; AT-RISK YOUTH REHABILITATION PROGRAM – $1,000,000.
According to reliable information, the total PSIP amount of $2.5M is inclusive of the total budget amount of $6.8M. Even though others praised President Boakai for his appointment of the Senegalese as Liberia’s Ambassador at Large for Youth and Sports Development, the decision by the President continues to suffer heavy criticism and severe lashes as most of them have called on the Liberian leader to revoke such appointment in the interest of the sector and the people at large.