As part of its tradition each year, the Inquirer Newspaper bestows honors on individuals as well as entities in its year-end edition for the year under review and that is simply due to their roles and or services rendered the public or in the society.
It is in this direction that our editorial team liaises with the public seeking opinions and making judgments on who or what should be captured in our special personality’s edition.
To this end, the paper is without doubt in selecting the below listed as our achieved personalities of the year 2020 and we look forward to more individuals’ work in the coming years so that they too become visible in what they do for the development of Liberia.
You will notice that some of our honorees will be receiving our recognition twice or more times because this paper deems it expedient as those who will be fortunate have continued to make gains in their achievements and that cannot go unnoticed; just as we will not hesitate to take back our recognition if as an honoree, you perform below our expectations.
Those worthy of our commendation for this year under review are: our 
Man of the year- Archie Ponpon; Banking Institution of the year-International Bank (IB); Humanitarian of the Year-Bishop Doyen; Diplomat of the year-Upjit Jeety; Emerging politician of the year-Amb. Laaramah Nyonton; Reformist of the year-Dr. Zarwolo Nelson; Business Center of the year- EXODUS Entertainment, Female Advocacy Group of the year- Female Journalists Association of Liberia and Author of the year-Samora Wolokollie.
Others are Lawmaker of the year-Abraham Darius Dillon; Representative of the year- Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis; Digital youth advocate of the year-Willie Bee Tingba; Industry of the year- the National Aqua Fisheries; Agency of the year-Public Procurement and Concession Commission; Regulator of the year-Liberia Medical and Health Regulatory Authority, Administrator of the year- Davidetta Brown Lansanah and Philanthropist of the year- Daniel Cassell
A Liberian activist, Archie Ponpon, is indeed our MAN of the YEAR. Some may wonder why we did not place him in the advocacy category but our judgment is not based on the role he played but the bravery he exhibited that had the propensity of claiming his dear life or has left him with a lifetime scar.
Archie set himself ablaze on the grounds of the Temple of Justice in Monrovia on resentment that he was being threatened, deprived of his just benefits and thought the only remedy was to take his life; though it is not easily allowed in the full glare of the public that someone be watched taking his/life.
Archie, a onetime advocate for ‘gays and lesbians’ rights in Liberia, attempted committing suicide by immolation because he claimed of being tired living in fear and agony.
He alleged that he took the action to kill himself to satisfy Chief Justice Francis Korkpor who he alleged was sponsoring unknown persons who were always tailing him at night due to his stance against him at the Temple of Justice.
The protesters even defied the Chief Justice, Francis Korkpor’s warning restricting any forms of protest on the grounds of the Temple of Justice thereafter, he issued a Writ of Arrest for protesting workers who refused to adhere to his mandate and just when the Writ of Arrest was issued, Archie stepped away from the sheriffs and wasted gas on himself and before anyone could know it, he was ablaze.
Archie narrowly absconded death after the horrifying fire on a very hot afternoon at the Temple of Justice thereby amazing his fellow protesters, his family, other courtroom staffers as well as the Justices and the media.
He later attempted removing the burning cloth from his body while water was poured on him after being engulfed by the fire leaving him to nurse his injury but at least he has survived.
The Inquirer’s Minister of the Year is Dee Maxwell Saah Kemayah, Sr. whose immediate past title was the Permanent Representative of Liberia to the United Nations thereby conferring unto him an ambassadorial title, served as Deputy Minister for Administration at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was also a member of the Joint Transitional Team tasked with helping to ensure the smooth transfer of Liberia’s presidency from Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to George Manneh Weah.
Having served well, he was elevated to the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs so that he can come closer to his country and serve his people; therefore he was nominated by President George Weah but his nomination met stiff resistance because just when he was preparing for confirmation, an allegation of sexual harassment was slammed against him by one of his diplomatic staff.
He is our Minister of the year because in spite of all of the sexual harassment allegation but the law firm representing Kemayah stated that they have initiated an investigation based on their principle of avoiding prolonged and wasteful litigation and that they did not want to have to pursue costly litigation against the accuser or the news media publishing knowingly false statements.
Amb. Kemayah, Sr. who continues to remain focused and did not make any public statement besides refuting the allegation before the Liberian Senate told his legal team that he wants to continue the great work he has been doing and will not let such clear false allegation stop him.
Kemayah’s legal team said the Ambassador has been quite respectful and did not want to have to address these lies, but felt it was necessary that the people of Liberia hear the truth and considered Ms. Cummings’ allegation as an outlandish lie.
This paper considered Amb. Laaramah Nyonton desirous of its Emerging Politician of the Year Award because in spite of his distance, he still participated in the day-to-day politics in Liberia bringing to the fore political issues that needed public discussion.
Amb. Nyonton, a member of the Collaborating Political Party questioned the then Minister of Commerce for the controversial distribution of the stimulus package, while at the same time directed his efforts at distributing food and non-items to residents of Montserrado County during the coronavirus pandemic.
He also condemned the NEC’s decision to postpone the election to December when the constitutional date was in October and was clear that the government has lost the fight against Covid-19 when the fight had not even intensified due to the government’s attitude towards curbing the disease.
Amb. Nyonton ran as a candidate in the 2017 Presidential and General Elections in District # 12 but lost and since then his quest is that Liberia remains stable and that the government strives to uphold public policy and trust.
Business Center of the year-EXODUS Entertainment is one of the affordable 100 percent Liberian-owned businesses that has fast emerged to make for itself a house-hold name in Monrovia and its other surrounding counties.
The business was affected during the coronavirus pandemic like all other business because of the slow economy coupled with the social distancing health protocols but today, Exodus can point to branches in Monrovia where it sells whole sale drinks.
The business is also involved with entertainment and is operating an up-to-date entertainment center that has been refurbished to give customers more space and comfort on Gurley Street, the heart of the city.
Female Advocacy Group of the year- Female Journalists Association of Liberia (FeJAL) is our choice because this group of media workers in spite of the criticisms and politics that members of this Association would have stooped low to the power that-be, because they have been bought a van and presented a comfortable building by President Weah.
The Association continues to make its members and donor partners very proud and has joined many other advocacy groups against sexual and gender based violence including domestic crimes. As a sign of its maturity, this group speaks when it is expedient and advocate behind the scenes when the need arises; an example is when the alleged sexual harassment issue sparked up against Dee-Maxwell Kemayah, this group called on the government of Liberia to halt the confirmation hearing until he can exonerate himself.
The decision to halt the process was basically to look into a complaint of sexual harassment from a Liberian who is currently in the United States of America worked with Minister Kemayah while he served as Ambassador at the United Nations in New York; something FeJAL still feels is necessary.
Banking Institution of the year-International Bank (IB) Liberia Limited is considered truly the bank of trust and reliability as it has provided services to the country for over 50 years.
Formerly as International Trust Bank, IB as its commercial banking department, has provided excellent and unparalleled first class services to its customers. It is the only bank so far in the country that might not suffer liquidation like other commercial banks in the country.
Though, its strength lies in the Liberian dollar currency, the IB offers convenient business financing services along with its banking services, widely circulated money transfer services and workers loan scheme.
Our Humanitarian of the Year, Bishop Nimely Jarbokly Donyen of the Independent Catholic Church of Liberia (ICCL) has been rendering humanitarian services through initiatives that have been positively impacting the lives of disadvantaged in Montserrado County and other parts of the country.
Predicated upon the myriad needs of the people, the honoree’s humanitarian interventions have affected the targeted groups in the areas of education, health as well as economic empowerment including the rehabilitation of community roads.
In his quest to assist children from poor parents to acquire education, he opened a tutorial class using tent where they enjoyed formal education free of charge in April 6, 1998 along the New Georgia Estate Road.
This initiative brought relief to parents who could not afford to pay tuition and other fees for their kids’ enrollment at various schools in the communities and as the process gained momentum, enrollment dramatically increased which led to the opening of three additional ones and as time went by, they were transformed into schools and subsequently registered with the Ministry of Education (MOE).
Additionally, he has been partnering with the Care School System which is situated in Mount Barclay outside Monrovia whose students are predominantly from parents who are below the economic ladder and as such, he provided portion of the students’ tuition and paid the teachers including support to the administration.
Presently, the Humanitarian of the Year 2020 is running the Cheerful Givers High School (CGHS) in Red Hill as well as Rehab and adjacent communities which is mainly helping students whose parents cannot afford fees at other schools because they fees are affordable.
Another humanitarian intervention on the part of the clergyman has been on emergency basis where he has been providing preventative materials like faucet buckets, several cartons of tide soap including chloride and thousands of 25kg bags of rice to various community residents in Montserrado County and other communities during the Ebola outbreak in 2014.
During the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, he also provided similar services to several communities in Montserrado County at which time beneficiaries referred to him as being the only private citizen who continues to identify with them in the face of health crisis.
Bishop Donyen who is in partnership with his friends, the Compassion for Life based in the USA again provided relief to the community dwellers by connecting the area with pipe borne water from the Liberia Water and Sewer Corporation (LWSC).
The honoree established a micro loan for marketers where they credit at a very low interest rate of 10% and to date some marketers who hailed from the Southeastern Region and presently residing in Montserrado County and other areas organized themselves in their district Marketing Association of Monrovia such as Barrobo Marketing Association in Monrovia among others are the beneficiaries.
Our most improved Industry of the Year is the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) which has captured our awards for the second time in succession because of the farsighted leadership role played by its Managing Director, Emma Metieh-Glassco.
NaFAA continues to embark on massive public awareness activities in the fisheries industry across the country and it is increasing the benefits of Liberia from a fish stock nation without risking sustainability and increasing investments in the offshore fisheries sector.
For the year under review, NaFAA was able to secure job opportunities for seamen; the Authority now has the potential capacity to generate up to 30 million annually from the fisheries sector and at the same time conducted a national fish stock assessment while launching a 3 million Euros fisheries project with the Environmental Justice Foundation.
The Inquirer’s Regulator of the year-Liberia Medical and Health Products Regulatory Authority (LMHRA) is worth our commendation because regardless of the limited resources, there have been significant progress under the relative short period under the supervision of Keturah C. Smith.
The political crises placed a dent on the Authority which was inherited by Pharmacist Smith but a robust inspection by the inspectorate department of the Authority for all pharmacies, medicine stores and pharmaceutical importers’ warehouses as well as health facilities in and outside of Montserrado County.
As a result of the collaboration and networking of the Authority with other ministries and agencies, the Liberia Revenue Authority, the National Port Authority and the Roberts International Airport were able to turn over on several occasions expired sub-standard and counterfeit medications or heath products from entering the local market.
Our honest Philanthropist of the Year award goes to Dr. Daniel E. Cassell, the president and Chief Executive Officer of the Cassell Foundation for his unwavering vigor to assist Liberians which surpasses relationship or connections. It was because of this heart to give that at the time of the deaths of Albert Peters and Gifty Lama, Dr. Cassell offered a cash reward of LD 5, 000, 000 to anyone who is able and willing to provide credible information that would have led to the arrest and subsequent prosecution of the alleged perpetrators. He also presented a check of US$ 10, 000 to the Press Union of Liberia sometime in September to assist journalists in whatever ways across the country. On the eve of Christmas, the Liberian philanthropist took a tour expressing compliments and sympathies at the homes of the late Peters and Gifty Lama and took upon himself responsibilities that normally would not happen in the Liberian society. Without strings attached, Dr. Cassell issued a check to the family as a full payment for first semester school fees and books for the older child.
Our honoree, Rustolyn Suacoco Dennis of District # 4 of Montserrado County, Representative of the Year has barely spent half of her six years tenure in the Legislature, yet she has proven to be no sleeping giant in spite of being the youngest female lawmaker. On her solo advocacy, she is pushing for a resolution for a War Crimes Court to be established in Liberia and to date, she has been able to rally support from her colleagues beginning with nine lawmakers and today she has at least 60 of her other colleagues joining her to sign the document.
She is also championing a bill to establish a court to fast-track cases of power theft. As a founding member of the independent legislative caucus, Rep. Dennis has remained resolute on keeping the leadership’s feet to the fire in performing the duties of a legislator.
Born and bred in Paynesville precisely in the Soul Clinic Community, Honorable Rustolyn Suakoko Dennis, a geologist by profession acquiring knowledge both in Liberia and London is also a former part-time lecturer at the University of Liberia.
Founder of Urban Initiative Liberia in Montserrado County in District #4, the representative’s initiative is geared towards scouting for women who were into catering as a business and pair them.
As part of her representation scheme, Rustolyn along with some lawmakers of the 54th Legislature stood up in defense of their colleague, Yekeh Kolubah thereby making the Speaker to call for urgent investigation into the children party held by Rep. Kolubah in his district that left several persons wounded.
Rustolyn, like her colleagues, frowned on what they termed as a barbaric and unacceptable behavior exhibited at the children’s party and that their colleague should not be subjected to any security for investigation, rather, that the relevant Committee in the House take seize of the matter to report its finding in a timely manner.
Rustolyn has come public, declaring her intention to contest the Deputy Speaker post in the House of Representatives, the second top position which was created vacant as the result of incumbent Deputy Speaker, Bong County’s Representative Prince Moye’s victory in the just ended Senatorial Election. Rustolyn’s ambition for that high post is to ensure that women are strongly represented at the highest level of decision making in the Legislature and when successful, she will be the first female Deputy Speaker.
Our editorial desks again chose to honor Senator Abraham Darius Dillon of Montserrado County who has been retained in the Liberian Senate due to his level of transparency among his colleagues as our Lawmaker of the Year.
Dillon, a tough-talking Liberian advocate who once served as Chief of Office Staff in the Legislature entered the Liberian Senate with a plate-load of ideas and has been bent on meeting his target since then by being the first Senator to declare his assets and to announce publicly the take-home salaries of lawmakers.
Though it was a taboo in the legislature for even lawmakers who claimed to be buried with unmatched integrity, Dillon kept a promise of receiving only US$ 5, 000 off the lump sum salary given to a lawmaker and it was also through his intervention and advocacy that struggling staffers get their special sessions benefits due them.
He brought visibility to the Liberian Senate through its consistent advocacy to the extent that the numbers of secret (executive) sessions have reduced, coupled with his resolve to call for roll call at every plenary session which to date is compelling the Senators to attend as the sessions begin on time.
Commissioner Davidetta Brown Lansanah is our Administrator of the Year due to her ability to handle the just ended senatorial election, the two by-elections and the referendum simultaneously.
The veteran broadcaster acknowledged the glaring challenges, but assured that the incidents were not grave enough to overturn the elections results.
She administered the process with wisdom and her vast knowledge having served the NEC and now sits as one of the longest serving member among the Board of Commissioners; Chairperson Lansanah never relented in revealing information to the public whenever the need arose, thus adding to her credit the responsibility of a good steward.
In her first post elections address to the public through a media conference, Madam Lansanah confirmed that a Town Chief seized ballot boxes, but that denied about 2021 eligible voters from casting their ballots in Gbarpolu while in upper Nimba County electoral District #2, about 706 persons did not cast their ballots and in lower Nimba, additional 290 eligible voters in District #2 were also denied due to the lack of polling staff at those precincts; which are now the areas of contention.
She was even fair in reporting that some temporary staff of the Commission confiscated the ballot boxes bearing the original seal for what they referred to as safe keeping, among several other irregularities or violence in other countries.
She was also quick to sound the caveat that the NEC is not a political organization and as such, as head of the NEC and all of the Board of Commissioners including various staffs of the Commission are not partisans of any political parties or any persons that has been speculated within the public.
She was also quick to provide clarity on electoral matters like in the case of the postings on social media of packaging papers on few of the carton boxes containing the ballots. She stated that the NEC’s staff along with airport securities did spot check on the few boxes in question and verified that the contents of the boxes were intact and reassured the public of a free, fair and credible Special Senatorial Elections, Constitutional Referendum and the two Representative By-Elections in District # 9 Montserrado County and District Number 2 Sinoe County.
Under her supervision, the Commission heard pre-elections complaints in a timely manner thereby finding amicable solutions before the elections and it is now conducting post elections dispute hearings; which is an example of a good Administrator.
The former Dean and Vice president for Students’ Affairs at the flagship Premier University in Liberia, Dr. Julius Zarwolo Nelson who now refers to himself as the supervising manager of the University of Liberia is our outstanding Reformist of the Year.
Our recognition goes to him because within just a year serving as president of the UL, Dr. Nelson has embraced different methods and approaches aimed at encouraging continuous faculty-staff development thus changing the narrative at the state owned institution wherein every semester there are series of protests which have hampered the smooth learning at that tertiary institution.
Dr. Zarwolo has embraced an open system strategy which has increased dialogue with the students particularly their leaders and he has brought some level of relief to the faculty and staff in whose stead the students had to protest from time to time. Under Dr. Nelson’s leadership, the government made a commitment to paying salary and benefits to all faculty and staff in time as well as provide stipend for students at the School of Pharmacy.
Deans are now accessible to students for dialogue and this level of interaction with faculty and students have mitigated the protests as students are given listening ears while Dr. Nelson and his deans and staff inform the students about their plans for the University so that they dialogue and agree on issues to move the institution forward.
Another credit to Dr. Nelson is that Lux FM is up and fully operational while it is in working progress for part time instructors who have been receiving salary or benefits from semester to semester to be placed on an annual budget and the payment spread out monthly as it is done with the full timers.
Dispute the difficulties in adjusting to the e-learning system as a result of the civil pandemic, 14,000 students participated in that process and that is an impetus for the University to consider blending the traditional face to face learning with the digital learning set up, 8,000 students were registered in the first week without going through that campus headache.
Willie Bee Tingba, Jr. our Digital Youth Advocate of the Year is a Liberian youth, writer, and influential public speaker, a volunteer and a leading youth Digital Rights Advocate in the country.
Willie is a determined and a purposeful animated Liberian with a style for inventiveness and innovation whose qualities have been demonstrated through a range of volunteerism within the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) sectors of Liberia. He is an IT specialist with experience in Telecommunications and network administration and also a CyberSec enthusiast and provides a junior research solution for CyberSecurity threats for government and private agencies. Willie Bee is a Part-Time Lecturer at the prestigious BlueCrest University College in Liberia where he teaches Windows server technologies, Operating Systems, Human-Computer Interface, Advanced Database Management Systems and Data communication network at the, freshman, junior, and senior level.
He is an implementing member of the Universal Access Fund project at the Liberia Telecommunications Authority; where he among others advocated for the installation of the first communication tower in few of the remotest parts of Liberia which includes; Parluken Town, Grand Kru County, Gbarpolu and Bong County after these part of Liberia being un-served and under-served for several years.
Willie is the President emeritus and Founder of Liberia Information Technology Student Union, (LITSU) the premier IT Youth Association in the country through which his advocacies along with others have provided jobs, internships, and scholarships for more than thirty plus ICT students in the country.
Willie is among the strongest and most capable leaders in the technological field in Liberia, and he is also playing a substantial role in youth leadership and education countrywide.
Our selection of Dr. Samora P.Z. Wolokollie as Author of Year 2020 by this paper is based on the collection of data information and poll sampling from individuals or groups of individuals from various walks of life, including civil society, opinion leaders and journalists who reasoned that Dr. Wolokollie’s work and contributions to society have made transformative impact in the areas of forensic auditing and overseeing all matters relating to government’s fiscal policy.
Justifying why he deserves this award, is most notably his recent book, “Forensic Accounting Analytics and Pension Fund Administration: A Study of Selected Administrators in Liberia” which provides a clear overview on tackling fraud and misfeasance in one of Africa’s poorest counties, since its declaration of independence in 1847.
Dr. Wolokollie wrote, “The peril of fraud, corruption, and misfeasance are commonplace and are at the increase globally especially in Liberia. As a result, forensic accounting or forensic auditing has emerged as a result of the surge in fraud.”
Our Author of the Year 2020 is a global fraud examiner and has been credited for ably managing his primary responsibility of overseeing and executing all matters relating to government’s accounting, including pay, pensions, and other allowances as well as developing key fiscal policy at the Ministry of Finance Development and Planning.
Upjit Jeety is our Diplomat of the Year due to his invaluable services rendered Liberians and Liberia in general. He has outstretched his diplomatic mission by getting deeply into the Liberian system. On behalf of his Community, he donated several roller coaster buses to the Liberian government, most of them are plying the streets to date for commercial use. When the coronavirus was at its peak in the country, Jeety led a convoy of assorted items to the 14th Military Hospital as part of the Indian community’s way of joining the fight to curb the disease.
As if not satisfied, Jeety fed way-ward Liberians known as Zogos food for over 100 days and is still undertaking said initiative as he just concluded feeding several others on Christmas Day.