Monrovia – The Chairman of the Solidarity and Belief for a New Day (STAND), Mulbah Okay. Morlu, Jr., has strongly criticized the Unity Get together (UP) for appointing senior authorities officers to fundraising committees established to help the development of latest get together headquarters throughout Liberia, describing the transfer as unethical and a violation of public belief.
By Selma Lomax [email protected]
The Unity Get together just lately introduced the formation of a number of nationwide and county-level committees forward of its Homecoming and Fundraising Program scheduled for December 6, 2025.
The occasion, themed “Positioning the Unity Get together for Lengthy Time period Political Vibrancy, Coverage Reform, Infrastructural Improvement, and Membership Drive,” goals to lift funds for the constructing of nationwide and county headquarters. Nevertheless, the inclusion of sitting lawmakers, cupboard members, and different senior public officers in these committees has sparked widespread criticism from civil society and opposition figures.
In line with the UP’s official launch, Senator Dabah M. Varpilah, who serves because the get together’s First Vice Chairperson, has been appointed as Chairperson of the Nationwide Steering Committee. Jeror Cole Bangalu serves as Cochair, with members together with Mohammed Kromah, Prince Okay. Moye, Amin Modad, Magdalene E. Dagoseh, Neto Z. Lighe, Cornelia Kruah, Whroway Bryant, Roland Giddings, Robert Wongbay, Prince Toles, Sekou Kanneh, Lucia Tarpeh, Helena Knuckles, Clarence Massaquoi, Mo Ali, Robert Bestman, Selena P. Mappy, Lansana P. Fofana, Melvin Cephas, Loseni Okay. Siryon, Adolphus Lake, Noah Z. Gibson, Patrick Wozie, Prince Tamba, and Martin Togbah.
The Fundraising Committee, which is on the heart of the controversy, is chaired by Cornelia Kruah, with Edmund Ford as Cochair. Different members embrace Selena Mappy, Prince Okay. Moye, Mohammed Kromah, Sarah McGill, Boakai Jaileba, Garmai Koboi, and Eric Ceekay Sayee. This committee is tasked with main the design, implementation, and coordination of the get together’s fundraising technique to safe funds for brand new get together places of work nationwide.
Moreover, County Fundraising Committees have been shaped throughout Liberia, every led by distinguished authorities officers. In Nimba County, Senator Nya D. Twayen, Jr. chairs the committee with Nelson Bearngar; in Bong County, Senator Prince Okay. Moye leads with Martha Morris; in Lofa County, Consultant Clarence Massaquoi chairs with David Mawolo; in Grand Bassa, Magdalene Dargoseh leads with Amuchi Davis; in Margibi, Consultant Ben Fofana heads with Ceceia Doe; in Montserrado, Consultant Richard Koon chairs with Robert Bestman; in Bomi, Hon. Sekou Dukuly leads with Moses Amen; in Grand Cape Mount, Senator Dabah M. Varpilah chairs with Aaron Samullah; in Gbarpolu, Hon. Murphy Kanneh leads with Loseni Okay. Siryon; in Maryland, Hon. P. Mike Jurry chairs with Fred Gbato; in Grand Kru, Hon. Edmund Forh heads with Nelson Torbor; in Grand Gedeh, Hon. Neto Z. Lighe, Sr. leads with Retha Karr; in River Gee, Senator Francis Saidy Dopoh, II chairs with Jay Doe; in River Cess, Chairman Luther Tarpeh leads with Mark Marton; and in Sinoe County, Hon. Milton Teajay chairs with Harrison Karr.
The Media and Publicity Committee, chaired by Mo Ali, will oversee all communication elements of the December occasion. Different members embrace Lansana P. Fofana, Noah Z. Gibson, Charles Collins, Abraham S. Kromah, Amara Quardu Mohammed, Stephen Johnson, Wesley Nyenatoh, Sylvester Wonplue, and Samuel Rudolf Foeday.
Reacting to those appointments, STAND Chairman Morlu described the Unity Get together’s resolution as “a reckless fusion of political and state pursuits that threatens the credibility of public service.” He mentioned appointing cupboard ministers and different authorities officers to fundraising committees for a political get together was not solely unethical however a direct violation of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers.
“The inclusion of senior authorities officers in partisan fundraising actions represents a blatant abuse of public workplace,” Morlu mentioned. “It undermines accountability and gives the look that state assets and affect are getting used to advertise the political aims of the ruling get together.”
He cited Half V, Part 5.1 of the Code of Conduct, which prohibits appointed officers from partaking in political actions or utilizing authorities assets to help partisan agendas. Morlu additionally referenced Sections 5.9 and 5.10, which name for the removing of any public official present in violation of those guidelines.
“By appointing senior authorities officers to its partisan fundraising committees, the Unity Get together has crossed a harmful line,” Morlu emphasised. “This act displays a blatant disregard for transparency and the rule of regulation. Public workplace can’t and should not be used to advance the agenda of a ruling get together.”
Morlu additionally recalled earlier allegations involving the misuse of greater than US$300,000 in public assets throughout President Boakai’s inauguration celebrations, arguing that the present resolution factors to a recurring sample of moral lapses. He demanded that the President and the Unity Get together management instantly withdraw cupboard officers and lawmakers from all get together fundraising actions, warning that failure to take action would verify what he described as “a deliberate misuse of public funds and betrayal of the general public belief.”
“State energy will not be get together property, and public funds will not be marketing campaign gas,” Morlu mentioned. “Liberians won’t stand by whereas their taxes are exploited underneath the pretext of get together growth.”
STAND, which has introduced plans for a nationwide “Lead or Depart” peaceable protest on December 17, reiterated its dedication to selling moral governance and defending Liberia’s democratic establishments. The motion says it’ll proceed to strain the federal government to respect boundaries between political actions and state duties.
“The road between get together enterprise and public service should stay sacred,” Morlu concluded. “To cross it’s to ask the judgment of historical past and the wrath of the Liberian individuals. The Boakai administration should select whether or not it needs to serve the nation or serve the get together — it can’t do each.”
The Unity Get together is but to reply to STAND’s assertion.
Political observers say the controversy has reignited debate over Liberia’s weak enforcement of its Code of Conduct regulation, which has usually been criticized for missing accountability mechanisms. As preparations for the Unity Get together’s fundraising program proceed, the difficulty is more likely to stay a significant take a look at for President Boakai’s promise of integrity and reform inside his administration.
