As I said in a recent article, I support the amalgamation of political parties to avoid a crowded field during electoral process. I said this when four political parties under the banner of the Collaborating
Political Parties signed what was known as the FRAMEWORK DOCUMENT. The parties are the Alternative National Congress (ANC), All Liberian Political Party (ALP), Liberty Party (LP) and the former ruling Unity Party (UP). The signing ceremony was held at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County and was witnessed by the presence of several opposition political leaders of those parties.
Also, last week, some other political party leaders engaged in similar exercise like that of the four parties, with the signing of a document known as the “RAINBOW ALLIANCE,” for the purpose of working together during the pending elections, thereby avoiding a crowded field of political parties during the process.
The parties are Liberia Restoration Party (LRP), Change Democratic Action (CDA), Movement for Economic Empowerment (MOVEE), Democratic Justice Party (DJP) and Victory for Change Party (VCP).Others are, Grassroots Democratic Party of Liberia (GDPL); Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC); People’s Unification Party (PUP); Vision for Liberia Transformation Party (VOLT); New Liberia Party (NLP) and the True Whig Party (TWP).
However, my attention, like others have been drawn to the section which speaks of the” Guidelines for Presidential Appointments-Executive Branch of Government.”
Section 10.11.1
All constituent political parties shall be represented in the Cabinet. Cabinet positions shall be allocated amongst the constituent political parties and all other qualified Liberians whether or not they are members of the Alliance;
Section 10.11.2
Constituent Political Parties shall recommend qualified Members for appointment to Cabinet, junior cabinet, Technical level positions, local government administration subject to all applicable laws;
Section 10.11.3
Only known, active and visible members of Constituent Political Parties shall be recommended by the parties;
Section 10.11.4
Constituent Political Parties shall recommend members in the counties for local government positions. Only known, active and visible members in the county shall be recommended by the parties for local government positions.
Specifically, my major concern has to do with Section 10.11.1, 10.11.2 and 10.11.3. 10.11.1, which says,“ All constituent political parties shall be represented in the Cabinet. Cabinet positions shall be allocated amongst the constituent political parties and all other qualified Liberians whether or not they are members of the Alliance “and Section 10.11.2, states,” Constituent Political Parties shall recommend qualified Members for appointment to Cabinet, junior cabinet, Technical level positions, local government administration subject to all applicable laws.
The last portion of my concern is Section 10.11.3, which states, “Only known, active and visible members of Constituent Political Parties shall be recommended by the parties.”
Reviewing these provisions, I see a complete contradiction. In the first portion the parties said, “All constituent political parties shall be represented in the Cabinet. Cabinet positions shall be allocated amongst the constituent political parties and all other qualified Liberians whether or not they are members of the Alliance. In this provision, it is said that “Cabinet positions shall be allocated amongst the constituent political parties and all other qualified Liberians whether or not they are members of the Alliance.”
Interestingly in Section 10.11.3, the parties were in complete contradiction of section 10.11.1. Only known, active and visible members of Constituent Political Parties shall be recommended by the parties. How can one portion of as document says that appointments by the parties should not be based on membership, but any qualified Liberian whether such person is not a member of the any of the party, and at the same time the very document states that “only known, active and visible members” of the parties shall be recommended for positions in government. What a complete contradiction!
The intent of this piece is not only to raise the issue of contradiction or the phraseology of some of the provisions of the document, but also the intent of the parties, should they ascend to state power by excluding other Liberians only because they are not members of particular political parties, even if such persons are qualified for a particular job.
Noticeably, some of those who vote for national leaders are not necessarily members of political parties. But they do so to exercise their franchise in the electoral process. It would be foolhardy for anyone or group to harbor the notion or mentality that all of those who turn out to vote are members of political parties.
Again, it would be sheer naivety to think in such manner. Appointments in government, especially in the cabinet, which is the nucleus of the Executive Branch, should be based on competence, qualification and moral rectitude and not on party membership as the criteria.
Today, I am making this an issue because if it remains, as it is, and that these parties ascend to state power, this country would be reporting some of the mistakes of the past that plunged this country into patricidal conflict. It is axiomatic and an indisputable fact that one of the attributable factors that led to the conflict in this country was the Issue of exclusion and marginalization.
I am happy that this Issue has come to the glare of the public and has become a matter of public discussion and concern. As it is said, “to err is human,” therefore, the parties should see the need to critically review this document. The CPP should avoid engaging in a losing battle by trying to defend the indefensible. The best is to correct it.
Our political leaders cannot continue repeating the mistakes of the past. This country must learn from the past mistakes to move from backwaters to prosperity.
As the late Ghanaian President Kwame Nkrumah said, “forward ever, backward neve,” therefore, let us move forward and not backward.
I Rest My Case.