Sumo Jones Defeats Amos Sawyer But Is Sumo Jones Becoming Liberia’s Al Gore By: John S. Morlu, II

Sumo Jones Defeats Amos Sawyer But Is Sumo Jones Becoming Liberia’s Al GoreBy: John S. Morlu, IILiberians are going to the polls in 2005 to elect their President and a cadre of Congressional members. The election in 2005 is a historic choice to set the direction of the country. Nothing is going to change that basic fact. It is going to happen. Amos Sawyer and others are trying to distract Liberians from focusing on that all important moment by proposing to postpone the election to have a constitutional amendment to decentralize our body politic. This is indefensable and Dr. Sawyer should be embarrassed for even suggesting it. Amos Sawyer has taken an untenable position that not only defies common sense but is also unbecoming of a man who served as an Interim President of Liberia.

In my judgment, the discussion should be about how we can level the playing field; speed up the disarmament process; repatriate and resettle Liberians; hold people accountable for war crimes; and how to punish those who engage in financial malpractice. We should concentrate our efforts on the bigger picture to provide information to Liberians to make an informed decision as to who among the growing list of candidates should lead 21st Century Liberia. I read on theperspective.org the transcript of the panel discussion in Pennsylvania that Dr. Sawyer and other decentralization proponents attended. I have also read on the theperspective.org various response to Dr. Sawyer’s ill-informed proposal to postpone the election, including Winsley S. Nanka’s compilation of views of some our politicians, “Former Vice Presidents Bishop Bennie Warner, Dr. Harry Moniba, Others React to the Postponement of 2005 Elections in Liberia.” Another commentary worth noting is E. Sumo Jones’, “Comments on Sawyer and Weh-Dorliae's Postponement of Elections.” Each comment has been reasonable and measured in tone.

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Author: Founder, Liberian Institute for Public Integrity. He holds an MBA in Finance from Johns Hopkins University, MA in International Commerce and Policy from George Mason University, and BA’s in Economics and Foreign Affairs from The University of Virginia. He is also Certified Management Accountant (CMA), Certified Internal Auditor (CIA), Certified Financial Manager (CFM), Certified Masters in Business Administration (CMBA) and Certified Government Auditing Professional (CGAP). He can be reached at jmorlue@yahoo.com