The Ministry of Youth and Sports and the Liberia Olympic Committee have endorsed and declared legitimate, the recent elections conducted by the Liberia Basketball Association, thus inducting into office the winning candidates in the process.
It has been reported that the former president of the LBA, Rufus Anderson, and some other officials in the past administration, including Jacob Kaba Kollie, who lost the presidential race, have expressed dissatisfaction on the Association’s recent election held in the open gymnasium at the Samuel Kanyon Doe Sports Complex in Paynesville on October 31, 2023, on grounds of suspected irregularities.
With the complaint in swing, the Ministry of Youth and Sports, along with the Olympic Committee, said the process of the election conducted by the basketball stakeholders and teams, met all standards of credibility and transparency. The sports governance entities disclosed that the Federation of International Basketball Associations (FIBA) has received reports from the election and started working to have Liberia readmitted in all of its programs.
Over the weekend, at the Sports Commission in Monrovia, Deputy Minister Andy Quamie, at the LBA induction program, revealed that he has been briefed by the LBA’s past president that a committee is being setup to investigate some irregularities that transpired during the Elective Assembly of the LBA.
According to Minister Quamie, said communication lacked what is required to develop basketball in the country, because the entire process was conducted in an open, fair, and transparent atmosphere, which is contrary to allegations raised by the concerned party.
He said following the conduct of the election, Thursday November 2, 2023, Sam Amadu, the president of the FIBA Zone three, placed a call to Liberia congratulating the country on a successful election, which has been filed in the reports of the observer that followed the process.
Quamie explained that the Zonal basketball president disclosed that basketball in Liberia is set to be added to all FIBA competitions, noting that Liberia’s basketball image needs to be renewed.
The Deputy Youth and Sports Minister, at the same time, inducted the new officials of the LBA into office, encouraging them to focus on the goal of uniting and restoring development to the game by reaching out and attracting more programs.
He urged all administrators, both past and present, to put away their differences and come on board to work as a team, adding that reconciliation and unity are the best ways to develop Basketball.
The president of the Liberia National Olympic Committee, Philipbert Brown, in remarks, intimated that the LNOC, as one of the two accredited entities by FIBA to observe the election, discovered no reason to place any question over the election and subsequent induction of the LBA. He reiterated that the election’s openness to all actors involved revealed a high level of transparency.
The LNOC boss also vowed to work with the new administration in giving basketball the fame it had, prior to the leadership crisis that engulfed the administration and killing the dreams of players and followers that found pleasure in visiting the various cults for fun and entertainment.
“Basketball before today was a game that had so many fans, supporters, and followers to keep the gyms lively. It has a history and was above all sports because of the managements that presided at the helm of authorities. The leadership problem that came over the LBA destroyed the game, but this is resolved now. The election was credible and you as the new administration need to bring life back to the gyms and the game as a whole,” Brown asserted.
President Abraham Samukai disclosed that while heading the administration of the LBA, his team is going to ensure that the rules of the game are observed and fully implemented while he initiates the rebranding exercise to restore the spirit.
Samukai vowed to reunite the Liberia Basketball Association and ensure that the divide that was established by the election does not stand as the barrier in the institution, upgrading the leagues of basketball and ensuring the rules and laws are respected.
“Henceforth, all major games will be recorded as a means of upgrading the leagues. The videos will be used to promote the game and take into consideration the attitude and behavior of players, match officials, and all those that are covered by the game,” he said.
Those inducted include Abraham Samukai, president; Yanqueh Borsay, Vice president of Administration; Bruce Quaye; Vice president of Operations; Malcolm Joseph, Treasurer, and Specket Neufville, Chaplain.
The president nominated Susie Hayes as Financial Secretary, to await the confirmation of the Executive Committee. He appointed Calvin A. Diggs as General Secretary, Alice Ann Caesar as Administrative Secretary, Edwin Siafa Fahnbulleh as Chair on Training and Manpower Development, Emmanuel Potter as Chair of Marketing, and Desiree Williams as Chair of Grievance.
