The National Civil Society Council of Liberia says it is gravely taken aback by the continued retirements of trained personnel of the Armed Forces of Liberia, specifically the recent decision by President Joseph Boakai to retire two top officials at the helm of leadership of the AFL at the same time.
In a press release, the civil society group indicated that it would have at least been far better if the President had retired the Chief of Staff and retained and promoted the deputy to the position of Chief of Staff, thereby making her the first female chief of staff of the AFL ever.
The release said, “As a Council, we think this was a perfect opportunity for the country to have its first female Chief – an important step towards the promotion of gender equality and the quest from the women of Liberia for more women to be appointed into key leadership positions in government,” noting that the decision of the Liberian leader does not promote gender equality, nor does it increase women’s participation in top leadership positions, making the country miss the most perfect opportunity to have a first ever female Chief of Staff.
NCSCL indicated that having served as Deputy Chief of Staff for several years, Brigadier General Geraldine George was equally fit and qualified for the position of Chief of Staff.
It can be recalled that upon his election, President Weah retired Maj. General Daniel Ziankahn and nominated him as Minister of the Ministry of Defense.
The retirement of top officials in the Armed Forces of Liberia may drain the human capacity and discipline of the Force for Good, since most of those who were trained to hold the integrity of the military are being retired by various Presidents.
According to the National Civil Society Council of Liberia (NCSCL), the retirement and subsequent nomination of George is counterproductive to the growth and development of the Liberian Army.
“From the way we see it, if care isn’t taken or if future leaders continue on this same path, the army that the nation is so proud of would become brain drained,” said the Council.
The CSO’s concerns stemmed from President Joseph Boakai’s ongoing nominations, wherein Major General Prince C. Johnson III was retired and nominated as Minister of the Ministry of National Defense, while Brigadier General Geraldine George was also retired and nominated her as Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of National Defense, and Minister Daniel D. Ziankahn, who was retired six years ago by former President George Manneh Weah, was nominated as Ambassador-Designate.
The Council pointed out that in order for the AFL to be a “Force for Good,” it would have augured well to maintain well-trained personnel to guide the directions of the army, noting that the promotion of Geraldine George to the position of Chief of Staff would have been the best decision than to retire both top officials at the same time.
The Council maintained that the continued retirements of these trained army personnel is a complete waste of taxpayers’ monies of the Peoples of the United States of America (USA) and other friendly nations, who, in support of the Security Sector Reform (SSR), following the 14-year civil brouhaha, contributed hugely towards the training of the Liberian Army, which was once factionalized during the war.
NCSCL furthered that the decision of the Liberian leader to retire Chief of Staff Johnson and Deputy George at the same time is a bad precedent, which does not promote gender equality at the level of the Liberian Army.
