Petitions President Boakai and Partners
Monrovia, Liberia – A group of Grand Gedians in Liberia and the Diaspora – have petitioned several international partners, including the United States Embassy, European Union, and Mano River Union, urging President Joseph Nyuma Boakai to withdraw the appointment of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant as Superintendent of the County.
According to the group, they are compelled to bring the matter to the attention of foreign missions in Liberia that have heavily invested in promoting the country’s peace and furthering its development, and to be alerted to a potentially explosive situation which could have regional implications.
The group added that their call demonstrates an unqualified commitment to maintaining public peace amid a potentially explosive and destabilizing situation in Grand Gedeh County arising from the appointment of Mr. Grant as the head of the local government in the county.
Alex Grant was confirmed by the Liberian Senate on April 24, 2024, and appointed by President Joseph Nyumah. Prior to this, he was the Representative of District 1. The confirmation of Grant received the support of more than twenty (20) senators.
Weafus Kamawon Quitoe, the National Chairman of the Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in Liberia, maintained that Mr. Grant’s recent loss in the recently concluded 2023 election, in which he ran as a senatorial candidate, is a clear indication that the people of the County do not support his leadership.
He continued that the selection of Mr. Grant seriously jeopardizes the county’s tranquility and raises the possibility of protracted demonstrations and acts of civil disobedience.
Quitoe claimed that when it was revealed that Superintendent Grant had falsified his academic credentials, it damaged the County’s reputation. Both Cuttington University College and the University of Liberia expelled him.
The petition statement added that in February 2018, Mr. Grant was accused of attempted murder by his Chief of Office Staff, Aaron Togba, a young Grand Gedean, who alleged that his boss wanted him dead because he had sensitive information about him that he was afraid he would make public.
According to the petition, the young man was subjected to abuse by people he said Mr. Grant had employed.
“When Grand Gedeh County’s Election Magistrate, Alfred Dunner, went missing in May 2022, Superintendent Grant was one of three persons accused of being complicit in his disappearance while the case remains unsolved. His contribution to addressing the mysterious disappearance was to say that Mr. Dunner was taken by a spirit.”
These instances, according to Weafus Quitoe, prevented the successful holding of the County’s annual development meetings during the leadership of Mr. Grant as head of the County Legislative Caucus. Few sittings that were held either ended haphazardly or in confusion.
He acknowledged that much of the discontent against Mr. Grant, particularly that which relates to violence, is fueled by allegations; Mr. Grant has never been convicted in any court of law. The representative of the group argued that good and effective leadership has very little to do with legality and all to do with moral authority and goodwill.
”Mr. Grant was appointed despite the overwhelming and easily verifiable information provided to the appointing authority documentation pervasive allegations in the County of his complicity in several dubious activities, his lack of moral authority and integrity, and his polarizing history. He even confirmed his lack of integrity when, during his confirmation hearing, he denied, under oath, being expelled from the University of Liberia because of his fraudulent academic record.”
”This information was common knowledge to many of the Senators who confirmed him.”
The petition added, ”It can be recalled that on March 12, 2024, the Grand Gedeh County Elders Council in Monrovia, representing elders from the different sections of the county residing in Monrovia, held a press conference and pleaded with the appointing authority to withdraw Mr. Grant’s nomination.”
Also, on April 5, 2024, the Grand Gedeh County Traditional Elders Council pleaded again with the appointing authority to withdraw Mr. Grant’s nomination. Furthermore, The Concerned Citizens of Grand Gedeh released a press release on April 22, 2024, alerting the public to what it called “the existence now of a powder keg in Grand Gedeh County waiting to possibly explode” and pleading with the government to preserve democratic principles.
Despite the many concerns from these different groups, the Liberian Senate unanimously voted for the confirmation of Mr. Grant, which has sparked debate among citizens in the Country calling on President Boakai to withdraw the appointment.
Quitoe further stated that “we cannot decipher a rational explanation for Mr. Grant’s appointment as Superintendent of the County in view of the overwhelming information provided to the appointing authority and the Liberian Senate, and the passionate pleas of the people of the County and their Elders against his appointment because of his track record which portends strong potential for violence.”
The Concerned Citizens of Grand Gedeh are therefore requesting the intervention of international missions in Liberia to ensure that President Boakai withdraws the appointment of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant as Superintendent of the County.
Reported by: Simeon Wiakanty
Comtact: +231881538878
