Emancipation Movement of Liberia, Inc. - EMOL

PRESS RELEASE

(Monrovia. December 12, 2017): The Emancipation Movement of Liberia, Inc. (EMOL) has applauded the constitutional resolution of the dispute from the October 10, 2017 representative and presidential elections.
EMOL is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and non-partisan peace building and advocacy organization legally in the United States and Liberia.
Both men emerged out of 20 contestants for the presidency from the October 10, 2017 representatives and presidential elections.
Weah won 11 of the 15 counties of Liberia including vote rich Monterrado, but his margin of win was not enough to seal the deal.
Fifty percent (50%) plus one is what required winning the Liberian presidency under current elections law. VP Boakia won two counties, Lofa and Gbarpolu.
Both men lost in Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties.
More than half of the population did not register to vote. Liberia current population is 4.4 million but a little over 2 million registered to vote.
In a release following a consultative meeting by the organization Working Committee, the organization said it is importance for all Liberians at home and abroad to recognize that Liberia belong all Liberians regardless of party or candidate of one’s choice.
EMOL said it is now time for all Liberians to accept the outcome of the Supreme Court’s ruling and redirect all energies towards a peaceful and respectful second round involving Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), George M. Weah and ruling Unity Party (UP) Vice President, Joseph N. Boakai.
EMOL said it is also important for all Liberians to recognize that the casting of one’s vote is just the beginning of democratic governance process.
The release said at this juncture, it is critical for all Liberians irrespective of candidate of one’s choice to begin to ask what next for us as a country after all the media bubble.
EMOL said it is warning Liberians to be mindful of the 170 years old political culture that allows nearly all of the country’s politicians to ride on the “gravel train”, which has eroded strong opposition in the Liberian political system.
The release said the eroding of a strong opposition is dangerous for democratic governance and encourages and promotes semi-godly governance.
EMOL said it very important to recognize that Liberia’s problems are not due to ethnicity and religion or any particular tradition; instead they are due to the nonexistence of strong and guaranteed awareness and empowerment structures, which include rule of law and equal access to justice.
According to EMNOL, the nonexistence of these structures is also the obvious reason for sham patriotism and non-legacy-driven leadership.
EMOL said for these reasons, it is highly unlikely for the majority of the Liberian population to experience true freedom, rule of law, learning and other empowerment opportunities based on competing ideas, no matter who is in the position of power

Signed:
Jarwinken Wiah

Executive Director
[email protected]
http://www.emolnation.org.

Fulfilling the Emancipation Purpose

What is in it for the Liberian people if Weah or Boakia becomes president?
By: Jarwinken Wiah
It is obvious the next President of Liberia will either be Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) torch-bearer George M. Weah or ruling Unity Party (UP) current Vice President Joseph N. Boakia.
But we are failing to make this argument broader in favor of the majority of the population that has been suffering the brunt of the economic and political stagnation since independence for 170 years.
Both men emerged out of 20 contestants for the presidency from the October 10, 2017 representatives and presidential elections.
Weah won 11 of the 15 counties of Liberia including vote rich Monterrado, but his margin of win was not enough to seal the deal.
Fifty percent (50%) plus one is what required winning the Liberian presidency under current elections law. VP Boakia won two counties, Lofa and Gbarpolu. Both men lost in Nimba and Grand Bassa Counties.
More than half of the population did not register to vote. Liberia current population is 4.4 million but a little over 2 million registered to vote.
But what is amazing in these elections is the igniting motivation and fierce engagements on the grounds among the Liberians.
In almost every street corner, markets, and on the bikes, taxi, buses, kiker, this is a three tire vehicles. It has the capacity of three passengers plus the driver, there is argument among passengers.
The fact is both Weah and Boakia have not spoken against the current oligarchy governance structure, beginning with the senate, which both men and their running mates are part off.
The problem of Weah and Boakia was true for the 18 other presidential candidates that dropped out for low performance in the October 10 first rounds.
Our problem in Liberia is the governance structure. The Liberian governance structure works for only those in position of power and the so-called business community.
There is nothing in it for the majority of the Liberian people. For these reasons, it is highly unlikely for majority of the Liberian people to experience true change no matter who is elected to the position of the presidency.
For things to improve in Liberia requires changing the governance structure. That is making no one to be above the Rule of Law and compelling those in position of power to be accountable to the people who put them to power through the power of the votes.
Because compelling all those in positions of power including elected and appointed ones to serve in line with article one of the Liberian Constitution will mark the beginning of true democratic governance in Liberia.
It says all those serving in government are “public servants” and their key role is to work for the “satisfaction and security” of the people.
Neither Weah nor Boakia ever spoke about the reduction of the huge salaries, allowances, and other benefits they make at the expense of majority of the Liberian people in favor of any public programs, such as school fees, computerizing the entrance and placement tests of the University of Liberia.
The senate and House of Representatives in Liberia make more salaries than the United States Senate and Representatives. This unimaginable, but that is the reality. The Liberian Speaker makes more salary than the President of the United States. Yes, it is a reality too.
Will Weah and Boakia presidency fight to reduce the tenure and semi-goodly power of the presidency from six to four, tenure of senate from nine to six, tenure of representative to four, the senate from six to three? Will any of them dare fight for the reduction of huge salaries and allowances in favor of the majority?
Will Weah or Boakia presidency empower the police to arrest anyone who violate the law irrespective of his or her position of power? This includes lawmakers, cabinets, and superintendents, mayors, directors among others.
Which program Weah or Boakia will put in place for equal learning and empowerment opportunities that will allow millions of children in streets that are arguing and betting every day about European Football? They spend to bet for European football champion league winners rather than competing in schools because of bad governance.
Which program that Weah or Boakia will put in place that will guarantee the young girl who out there wants to go school from selling her body for school fees?
Which program Weah or Boakia will put in place that will guarantee the removal of millions of young boys from the streets to school without relying at the mercy of nature for school fees?
I am talking about government funding projects or programs that will be part of the national budget.
Will Weah or Boakia administration project number of jobs each annual budget passage will create? I am not talking about government jobs. I mean a budget that will attract investments in all the 73 electoral districts.
Making these things to happen are what the Liberian people want. When these are happening then we can say there is something in it for the Liberian people. This means one knows that meeting or doing certain things will guarantee these prospects for him or her.

EMOL was among local organisations held a consultative meeting with UNDP in Monrovia on October 7 , 2017. The meeting was about discussing strategies for the Rule of Law in Liberia and Access to Justice.

The Meaning of Liberia
A message from the Emancipation Movement of Liberia, Inc. (EMOL)

Introduction: The name Liberia came from the word Liberty or emancipation, which mean freedom. Emancipation means for one to be set free from legal, social, or political restraints.
It also means to be set free from slavery or from the control or influence of an individual or group.
From this definition, it is obvious there can be no true emancipation or freedom without skilled training or education and empowerment opportunities for the citizens of any country and for industrialization of any sovereign nation.
The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was to end slavery in the United States.
It was believed that the best way to achieve this objective was to create a new and free home for the freed slaves.
This piece of land which, was designated as the new home for the freed slaves was already occupied by indigenous comprising the sixteen tribes.
The basis for the idea of creating a free and independent country for the freed slaves was to avoid a revolt in the United States.
The second aspect was to give freedom to all citizens of Liberia, which was the new country, created out of the idea.
After 170 years from the time it became independent, vast majority of the citizens of Liberia have not experienced true freedom because of nonexistence of the basic premise of strong institutions and infrastructures.
So this means, we need to go back to the drawing board for the fulfilment of our founding purpose.
We circumvent the founding purpose for personal benefit rather than the country that is why more than 98 percent or more of the population survive on less than one U.S. dollar a day.
That is also why majority do not have access to safe drinking water, shelter, sanitary environment, roads, electricity, and the rule of law, education and healthcare.
This means the objectives set by the Emancipation Declaration for Liberia are not yet fulfilled.
Background: Liberia is a nation located on the West African coast with a land area of about 43,000 square miles and a population of nearly 4.4 million.

In 1819 the United States Congress appropriated $100,000 for the resettlement of freed slaves from North America.
The Emancipation Proclamation, which made the practice of slave trading illegal in the United States was signed on January 1, 1863.

The resettlement was carried out by the American Colonization Society, led by prominent Americans such as Francis Scott Key, George Washington’s nephew Bushrod Washington, Henry Clay, and Daniel
Webster, President James Moore, John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson.

The colony for the resettlement of the freed slaves was started by the U.S. government under the administration of President Monroe because he wanted to end slavery in America, but a concern arose over immediate abolition and the belief that it may result in mob violence and race wars.

He saw repatriating the former slaves to Africa as a way to end slavery in the U.S. and to avoid an uprising.
The first settlers from the United States arrived in Liberia in 1822.
Our next piece, we will bring you the failure.
Signed:

Jarwinken Wiah
Executive Director
EMOL
Tel: 774-253-4472
Web: emolnation.org

How can we make Liberia better?

Electing People to Power: There needs to be change to the election process in which the citizens elect people to power. The first step in this change would be for the people to recognize the power and importance of their votes. Every Liberian must also recognize and know that their elected officials, to include the president, are their servants. Electing someone is the same as hiring him or her to work for you and the greatest ideal for the country. Ultimately, you as citizens of the country have expectations of your elected officials. To serve as an elected official is an opportunity or a privilege for one to show how well he or she can do the things the people who elected them into office want to happen. That is why the time to serve in such position has a defined time frame. If one does a poor job or fails to do what the people who elected him or her want to happen, the same people have the power to remove him or her from office at the end of his or her election term. The people also have some authority to vote any official out of office without waiting for the prescribed end of their term should the official’s actions while in office warrant this. The power of your vote should not be taken for granted

Formation: Several of the colonies joined together to form the Commonwealth of Liberia in 1838 and Liberia declared its independence in 1847. The name Liberia originated from the word Liberty or freedom, and the capital city of Monrovia was named for President Monroe. This new country was created with the objective of providing freedom, prosperity and justice for all. Because of this objective, the wording on the official seal of Liberia is “The Love of Liberty Brought Us Here.” It has been more than a century, but the vast population of Liberia has not experienced true freedom because
the appropriate mechanisms for creating empowerment
opportunities have not been put in place.
The founding of Liberia was meant to end enslavement and was intended to appease the segment of Africans who were victims of the slave trade. The American Colonization Society (ACS), which was established in 1816, was used as the tool to facilitate the process of return migration. The ACS mission was to find a new home and expedite resettlement of the freed slaves to Africa. According to the “Millstone” (1830-1860) of the U.S. Department of States, the founding of Liberia was motivated by the domestic politics of slavery and race in the United States as well as by U.S. foreign policy. The resulting state of Liberia was the second black republic after Haiti in the world at the time.

Introduction: Emancipation means for one to be set free from legal, social, or political restraints. It also means to be set free from slavery or from the control or influence of an individual or group. From this definition, it is obvious there can be no true emancipation without skilled training or education and empowerment opportunities for the citizens of any country and for industrialization of any sovereign nation. The purpose of the Emancipation Proclamation of January 1, 1863 was to end slavery in the United States and it was believed that the best way to achieve this objective was to create a new and free home for the freed slaves. The basis for the idea of creating a free and independent country for the freed slaves was to avoid a revolt in the United States. The second aspect was to give freedom to citizens of Liberia, which was the new country, created out of the idea. Existing for 168 years and continuing as an independent sovereign country, there is no true freedom in Liberia because the country lacks the basic premise of strong institutions and infrastructures. As a result nearly 90 percent or more of the population survive on less than one U.S. dollar a day. They also do not have access to safe drinking water, shelter, sanitary environment, roads, electricity, and the rule of law, education and healthcare. This means the objectives set by the Emancipation Declaration for Liberia are not yet fulfilled.