Monrovia – With the waves of activities as the campaign for the 2017 elections begin; some political pundits believe that Vice President Joseph Boakai support base seems to be shrinking gradually – something the ruling party believe is not true.

Report by Al Varney Rogers, al.rogers@frontpageafricaonline.com

With the National Election Commission release of its final listing of those vying for representative seats and the presidency, revealing names of those who initially started trumpeting Boakai presidential ambition are now on the ticket of different political party other than the Unity Party.

The listing leave many to wonder whether the names of staunch members of the ruling party and supporters of Vice President Joseph Boakai appearing under a newly established political party Coalition for Liberia’s Progress (CLP) is an offspring of the Unity Party apparently meant to maintain a dominance in the lower house, or it might represent a decline in the support for Vice President Boakai presidential bid.

 Coalition for Liberia’s Progress (CLP) is considered a safe haven for appointed officials whose fate was at the mercy of the Supreme Court.

In 2011, Alexander A. Suah Sr. ran on the Unity Party ticket and served as an assistant Minister at the Ministry of Internal Affairs but is now on the ticket of the Coalition for Liberia’s Progress vying for the Montserrado district five seat, current Minister of Gender Julia Duncan -Cassell who for months has been trumpeting Veep Boakai’s presidential bid and Bong County Superintendent Selena Mappy Pulson who was allegedly coerced by chiefs to support vice president Boakai, something she denied, will not be a Unity Party candidate in Bong County.

And Deputy Minister of Information Andrew Tehmeh of Bong district seven 7 is also not a Unity Party Candidate for the representative seat.

Recently, Vice President Boakai has received unprecedented endorsements across the country before naming his running mate.

After naming his second man the narrative seems to be changing, so whether those endorsements are intact is something that has to pass the test of the campaign.

It is also reported that Findley is about to exit the Unity Party, his move comes in the aftermath of the Vice President’s decision to select Emmanuel Nuquay.

Findley sudden reversal is likely to deal a major blow to the ruling party which is said to have been relying on Findley to help capture a sizeable number of voters in the Bassa belt and put Brumskine off course.

The Assistant Secretary General of Unity Party Mo Ali said those candidates still remain strong supporters of the vice president presidential bid. 

“They are still strong supporters, today Selena Mappy Pulson was with us, both Mappy Polson and Duncan Cassell are still in the forefront of the Vice President campaign,” Ali said.

As for the news of Findley leaving, the Assistant Secretary General of Unity Party said the party has not receive any communication regarding Findley exiting the party.

“We don’t know about that, we only read the news in FrontPage Africa, consulting his family does not mean he is leaving and we have not receive any of such communication,” Ali said.

Monrovia – The Minister of Gender, Children and Social protection, Julia Duncan-Cassell, has expressed commitment for the compulsory primary education for teenage girls in the country.

Report by J. H. Webster Clayeh – websterclayeh@frontpageafricaonline.com

Speaking at the observance of the 5^th International Day of the Girl Child Tuesday, Minister Cassell said empowering girls could create an enabling environment through the implementation of programs and policies.

“Let us make it count today by making commitments to take actions to advancing an integrated movement for the empowerment of girls in Liberia by creating an enabling environment through the implementation of programs and policies to foster girls’ education, compulsory primary education policy for teenage girls,” she said.

The program was held at the Centennial Pavilion in Monrovia.  It was held under the theme: “Making it Count: Advancing an Integrated Movement for Girls’ Empowerment”.

Minster Cassell said ensuring the compulsory free education for girls and girls’ empowerment can only be achieved by advocating for policies and laws that protect the girl child.

She noted that having laws that address domestic violence, sexual and gender based violence, and also investing in the quality of education are necessary to empowering women and could lead to job creation for women.

“Let us make it count by holding ourselves accountable to those international instruments and treaties on the rights of women, girls and children to which our country has acceded and be in conformity with them,” Minister Cassell said.

Madam Cassell added, “I am a girl child, I am who I am. Like me, love me, take me, and leave me. Know that I am a true friend to the end and ask for nothing in return except two things, don’t hurt me or don’t use me.”

The guest speaker, Latricia Wamah, referenced many years back when women and girls had no right to education, property in the society, coupled with the wide spread of abuse in her own country.

According to her, women and girls have struggled for value in the world.

“Because of that, our right had been ignored. But let me tell you, we are more than that; we are strong, we are clever, we are creative, we are talented; therefore, we can change the world, we can change our country, our communities, and our families,” she said.

She reminded women that though men may have many advantages, women and men have the same rights.

“Put your selves in our shoes men and boys, how would you feel when you are left alone in your house with all of the works and we are out there learning? How will you feel?” Madam Wamah asked.