MONROVIA — Condemnations have intensified following the choice of the Ministry of Youth and Sports activities to reschedule the disputed match between Grand Cape Mount County and Lofa County within the ongoing 2025/2026 Nationwide County Sports activities Meet.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The choice, introduced on Wednesday, comes after the Grievance and Ethics Committee had earlier dominated in favor of Grand Cape Mount County, citing Lofa County for fielding three first division gamers in violation of the principles governing the match.
The ministry’s intervention has generated widespread public response, notably amongst residents of Grand Cape Mount County, lots of whom have taken to Fb to specific disappointment and anger over what they described as a choice that undermines equity and the unique intent of the competitors.
In keeping with the Grievance and Ethics Committee, Lofa County breached match laws by utilizing gamers registered within the first division league, an motion expressly prohibited underneath the Nationwide County Sports activities Meet guidelines. Primarily based on this discovering, the committee awarded the match to Grand Cape Mount County.
Nonetheless, the Ministry of Youth and Sports activities later introduced that the match can be rescheduled pending additional evaluation, a transfer that critics say weakens the authority of the committee and erodes public confidence within the integrity of the match.
Reacting on Fb, a number of residents of Grand Cape Mount County argued that the ministry’s choice contradicts the unifying goal of the Nationwide County Sports activities Meet, which was established to advertise peace, nationwide cohesion, and equal alternative amongst counties, no matter political affect or standing.
One resident, Samuel Jallah, wrote, “This ruling goes in opposition to the very spirit of unity the county meet stands for. When guidelines are damaged and justice is delayed, it creates division as a substitute of peace.”
One other resident, Mary Kpotoe, expressed frustration over what she described as selective justice. “We’re seeing double requirements at play. If this was one other county, the ruling would have been enforced instantly. This makes strange residents lose belief within the system,” she said.
In a extra politically charged response, Augustine Kamara alleged that highly effective pursuits had been influencing the method. “The ministry is making an attempt too arduous to permit Lofa County to qualify as a result of President Joseph Boakai, Deputy Speaker Thomas Fallah, and different prime authorities officers are natives of Lofa County. This notion alone is harmful for nationwide unity,” he wrote.
Equally, James Nyon warned that disregarding established guidelines may harm the credibility of the match. “When committees do their work and their selections are put aside, it sends a message that guidelines don’t matter. That isn’t how unity is constructed,” he mentioned.
One other resident, Hawa Morris, echoed issues about equity and equal therapy. “The county meet ought to be about expertise and truthful play, not about which county has extra individuals in authorities. This choice hurts the younger athletes who nonetheless consider in equity,” she famous.
Patrick Doe additionally criticized the ministry’s motion and known as for respect for institutional processes. “If the Grievance and Ethics Committee can’t be revered, then why have guidelines in any respect. The ministry should take into consideration the long-term harm this causes to nationwide unity,” he mentioned.
