MONROVIA – Dr. Clarence Moniba, the standard bearer of the Liberia National Union (LINU), has outlined an ambitious vision for Liberia’s future as he continues to rally support for his presidential bid.

He emphasized the importance of this upcoming election in determining the trajectory of Liberia’s development for years to come.

With the presidential election just weeks away, Moniba stressed the significance of the choice Liberians will make at the polls. He framed the election as a pivotal moment that could either propel Liberia forward or keep it stagnant for generations to come.

Moniba, who is running alongside Madam Grace Kpaan as his vice-presidential candidate, outlined several key policy priorities ranging from education, tourism to economic development.

For education, he proposed a revolutionary change in the education system, promising that under his administration, no student would graduate from high school without earning a technical and vocational certificate. This approach aims to produce high school graduates with valuable skills, such as carpentry, plumbing, electrical work, and catering.

Moniba pledged to enforce asset declarations for all government officials and crack down on corruption with a zero-tolerance policy. He vowed to hold those who steal government money accountable by sending them to jail and seizing their ill-gotten assets.

He also emphasized the importance of self-sufficiency in food production. He envisioned each Liberian county being responsible for producing specific staple foods, ensuring that Liberia becomes a self-sustaining nation, which would lead to decreased food prices and increased job opportunities.

The LINU standard bearer promised to build modern hospitals in each district of Liberia and elevate JFK and Jackson F. Doe hospitals to international standards. His vision is for Liberia to become a regional healthcare hub, attracting patients from neighboring countries.

For anti-drug measures, Moniba addressed the urgent issue of drug abuse, declaring a zero-tolerance policy for drug importation and sale. He emphasized that those who engage in drug-related activities would face the full weight of the law.

He also highlighted plans to promote tourism by implementing a visa-on-arrival policy, revitalizing existing tourism sites, and building a world-class tourism sector in Liberia.

According to Dr. Moniba, he would propose job creation in the maritime sector by employing Liberians on the numerous ships flying the Liberian flag. He also stressed the importance of leveraging international relationships to attract foreign investment.

Moniba called on the Liberian people to vote for change and move away from the two dominant political parties that have governed the country for nearly two decades. He argued that true change would only come from electing leaders with the energy, education, qualifications, character, vision, connections, and ability to unify the opposition and represent generational change.

In a unique and ambitious campaign strategy, Moniba and Kpaan committed to visiting over 500 Liberian villages and towns, reaching out to silent voters who prioritize a brighter future over tribal affiliations or popularity.

He appealed to all Liberians to vote wisely in the upcoming election, urging them to believe in themselves and their ability to create a New Liberia. He emphasized that a vote for Moniba/Kpaan on October 10 would be a vote for positive change in the country.

MONROVIA – A prominent Liberia citizen, Dr. Clarence Moniba has called for a holistic investigation of officials suspected of corruption in both the current and past administrations.

Dr. Moniba, a son of Liberia’s former Vice President, Dr. Harry F. Moniba, served in several capacities in the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf- Government including as Minister of State without Portfolio, Chairman of the Board of the Liberia Electricity Corporation and principal advisor and project manager to the former President.

His call comes after President George Weah suspended three of his top government officials after they were sanctioned by the United States Treasury Department for their alleged involvement in public corruption in Liberia.

The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) designated the three Liberians officials: Nathaniel McGill, Minister of State for Presidential Affairs, Cllr. Sayma Syrenius Cephus, Liberia’s Solicitor General, and Bill Twehway, Managing Director of the National Port Authority (NPA) for their alleged involvement in “ongoing public corruption in Liberia.”

‘Enough Is Enough’

Addressing a press conference at his residence in Paynesville on Thursday, Dr. Moniba welcomed the President’s order for a public investigation into the allegations by the US Government against the Liberian officials and called for the investigation and its findings to be completed urgently.

“Most importantly, we demand from this investigation one of two things-an official statement of their innocence or an indictment, jail term and restitution. This clear outcome is our bare minimum demand because we must begin real process towards our national fight against corruption,” he said.

Speaking further, the young Liberian statesman rallied the Weah-government to widen the investigation to include other suspected corrupt officials of both the current and the erstwhile Sirleaf’s administration.

He said: “Accountability, however, Cannot just be limited to these three government officials or this administration. Having served in the previous administration in various positions such as; Minister of State w/o Portfolio, Head of the President’s Delivery Unit and Chairman of LEC, I must join the millions of Liberians in demanding that President Weah not only open up a public and fair investigation into suspected officials of his current government, but that this scrutiny and prosecution be extended to officials who served during the 12 years of the Ellen Johnson Sirleaf administration.”

“There comes a time in a nation’s history when it reaches a decision point regarding the direction of its country. Fellow Liberians that time is now. Corruption must not be ignored, it must not be encouraged, and it must no longer go unpunished.”

Dr. Clarence Moniba

There are unverified reports that prior to his election, President Weah (then a Senator) had an agreement with the then outgoing President Sirleaf to shield her and family from any form of public scrutiny and prosecution. These claims have been rubbished by both parties.

But subjecting himself to an audit as a former government official, Dr. Moniba said ex-president Sirleaf has welcomed any type of scrutiny and investigation of her administration.

“As a young leader in Liberia and a former government official, I accept a full audit of my former offices held during my time in government. I hope that all others, in this administration, and the previous administration, will do the same. Enough is enough-we must fight corruption in order to save our nation.”

Corruption Holding Liberia’s Progress

It has been nearly two decades since the end of Liberia’s deadly 14-year civil war, but the pace of development is slow. More than half of the country’s estimated 4.5 million population live below the poverty line – less than US$2 (L$300), as per the World Bank report.

Many have attributed this slow pace to the entrenched corruption by successive administrations.

Despite former President Sirleaf’s pledge to fight corruption during her administration, she is widely criticized for not doing enough as Liberia’s first and longest post war President to curb the menace. Her successor, President Weah too, is being blamed for failing on his promise. He and his cronies have come under heavy criticisms for amassing questionable wealth in the space of just four years in their administration.

Expressing these sentiments following the imposition of sanctions on the three Liberian Government officials, the U.S. Department of Treasury said“Corruption has long undermined Liberia’s democracy and its economy, robbing the Liberian people of funds for public services, empowering illicit actors, degrading the business environment, and damaging the rule of law and effective governance in the country. Corruption also contributes to diminished confidence in government and public perception of impunity for those with power.”

Dr. Moniba, in his press conference warned “If we want a New Liberia, we must finally start to take the allegations and acts of corruption very seriously. As people of this country, we must realize that the economic and political consequences of corruption affect generations.”

These consequences he noted, result to absolutely no money left over to build schools or modern hospitals, pay teachers, train doctors and nurses, or build roads.

Rallying Liberians to form a united front in the fight against the menace, he said, “There comes a time in a nation’s history when it reaches a decision point regarding the direction of its country. Fellow Liberians that time is now. Corruption must not be ignored, it must not be encouraged, and it must no longer go unpunished.”

Continuing, he stated: “Let us call on the IMF, the World Bank, and other financial institutions, the U.S. Government, the United Kingdom and our other bilateral partners, and more especially our own audit and anti-corruption agencies to do what they are meant to be doing, which is protecting and empowering the lives of Liberians by helping to stop corruption.”