The Life Sketch of Former Legislator and Deputy Minister

When the death has comes and takes away our loved ones, it leaves our homes lonely and hearts broken, forcing tears from our eyes. This sometime places us in the state of sorrow, pain and uncertainty. This is the classical case of our father, an administrator; educator; faithful servant of God; patriot; and a dedicated public servant. He was not just a public servant but a renowned classroom teacher, a political militant, opinion leader, team player; above all a Legislator.

The death of Benjamin T.K. Blamo have truly reminded us of the words of a song writer when he said: When death has come and take away our beloved ones.. it leaves our homes so lonely and heartbroken. Truly indeed, our hearts are broken. We can only say God knows why this time He has to take away our father, a man who works have made us proud. “Teacher”, you have played your part, the peace loving people of Liberia, the community and society will always remembered your meaningful contributions.

The late Benjamin T. K. Blamo was born on July 18, 1940 in Kayken, Barclayville Chiefdom, Grand Kru County, unto to the blessed union of Gbojah Blamo and Nyeah Weadee Taryonoh, both of whom predeceased him. He was 74. As the only child of his late mother, he was well focused, known what he wanted in life. He treated his lesson very seriously and took nothing for granted. He was one of the brighter students in all the classes that he sat to learn and gained better education.

His peer called him “Benjamin” while the youthful population called him “Teacher”, some, while those who know him better called him “Tiger”. He was an inspiration to thousands of people both in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties not to mention the various places where he rendered due and just services with diligent and commitment. As a only child of his caring mother, the late T. K. Blamo received the Almighty Father and Creator bountiful blessings with 14 children, 32 grand children and four great grand children.

The late Benjamin T.K. Blamo’s aspiration and an ending determination for quality education motivated him to start his primary education in his birth home of Barclayville in 1957 by enrolling at the United Methodist Elementary School and later attended the St. Patrick’s Claver Catholic School in Barclayville where he left his indelible marks.

In furtherance of his education and not being satisfied with primary education, the late Benjamin T.K. Blamo in 1960 moved to Grand Cess, about three-hour walk from Barclaville to attend the St. Patrick’s Catholic School in Grand Cess, formerly the headquarters of Kru Coast Territory. Again, “Ben, Teacher” as the deceased was wildly called by his peer and the youthful population of Maryland and Grand Kru Counties, left his in print at the St. Patrick’s Catholic School.

In pursuit of his education but being financial incapable, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo moved to Harper City, Maryland County in 1962 where he was blessed to meet his loving, caring, dearest and God-fearing wife, Rachel Valentine Blamo who stood by him all these years in happiness, joy, trouble and sickness. The two couples lived happy lives and if the deceased was to rise from his casket bearing his remains, the first person he will asked for will be his daring wife, Rachel Blamo who he calls “Chel-Chel”.

Due to his services rendered the Catholic Church and Mission in Harper, Maryland County, the late Benjamin T.K. Blamo was grateful to had benefitted from the Catholic Church’s support to continue his higher education at the Fatima College where he successfully graduated in 1965 with distinction.

In appreciation of the Catholic Church’s assistance towards him in achieving quality and higher education, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo graciously decided to return to Grand Cess in Grand Kru County to teach at the St. Patrick’s Catholic School as his way of rendering his invaluable services to the Catholic Church. One of his students is Dr. Chris Toe, the former Minister of Agriculture.

While performing his services at the School, the late T.K. Blamo felt ill and was forced to return to Harper City, Maryland County to seek proper medical treatment, where he remained and thereafter transferred to Pleebo City, about 25-mile from Harper, to continue his teaching at the St. Francis Catholic High School where he though for several years.

In 1969, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo got employed by the J.J. Dossen Memorial Hospital in Cape Palmas as Director of the Department of Birth and Death. Again, he contributed greatly to the Hospital of which today his name remains a household word at the J.J. Dossen Hospital.

The late Benjamin T. K. Blamo lived a dynamics and unique life, he was not just a classroom teacher, administrator but a peaceful political militant, he believes in a non-violent approaches and help to championed populace democracy in the country. This national cause led him to detention along with several progressives including Gabriel Baccus Matthews by the then administration of former President William Richard Tolbert. While in detention, the late Benjamin T.K. Blamo and several progressives tasted several pains as they were beaten on a daily basis by the prison guards.

Before his detention, in 1978 he joined the Progressive Alliance of Liberia (PAL) and served as Chief Advisor of PAL Maryland’s Branch. He was not just a mere Member of PAL, but a non-violent political militant who believe in a positive change through the democratic process. It was the ideologies and his principles that led to him and dozens of other progressives including the god-father of Liberia’s multi-party democracy, G. Baccus Matthews to be arrested and detained by the former Tolbert’s administration.

The late Benjamin T. K. Blamo was never an ‘armed-chair” politician, he was a team player and aspiration. His experiences of maltreatment received in the detention did not discourage him either serve as an obstacle for him to continue his political life. He was a founding Member of the Progressive Peopl’s Party (PPP) which later transferred into the famous United People’s Party (UPP). He served in several dedicated capacities in the party.

In February 1990, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo came to Monrovia to attend a meet and while in Monrovia he got caught up primarly due to the Civil war. In 1991, when the Interim Government of National Unity (IGNU) head by a University of Liberia Professor, Dr. Amos C. Sawyer was formed in Banjul, the Gambia, and installed in Monrovia, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo in recognition of his several invaluable contributions to party’s progress, the United Peopl’s Party (UPP) requested him to occupy their seat in the House of Representative as their Representative, the post he held before being appointed in 1994 by the former Chairman of the Council of State, Professor David Kpomakp to the post of a Deputy Minister for Operations at the Ministry of Internal Affairs where he rendered due services with distinctions.

Again, in recognition of his precious contributions to the Liberian people and state, the former Chairman of national Transitional Government of Liberia (NTGL), Mr. Gyude Bryant appointed the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo as Advisor to the Vice Chairman, Honorable Wesley Momo Johnson on Internal Matters. He will be remembered for his recognized services in such a dedicated post.

He also served as Elder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dianna E. Davies School System; Co-chairman on the House of Representative’s Standing Committee on Executive during the regime of the Interim Government of National Unity (IGU) headed by Dr. Amos C. Sawyer and Co-chairman of the Board of Directors, New Vision Newspaper. In his capacity as Co-chaiman on Executive, he headed several Liberian government delegations abroad to Cyprus, Israel, Jordan and Lebanon; among several other countries. He was Administrator; Educator; Faithful Servant of God; Patriot; Septuagenarian and a Dedicated Public Servant, earning him dozens of accolades.

While serving as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Dianna E. Davies School System, the fallen Liberian Legislator and Deputy Minister helps to establish an Orphanage Children Home and Church in Brewersville to address the plights of war-affected children and the needy ones, aimed at installing Christian values and principles in the future generation as well as bring Christ to the community.

The former Liberian Legislator and Minister crumble in the crucial hands of death on Sunday, September 7th, 2014 at in the Ahmadiyya Muslim Clinic in Sinkor, following months of protracted illness. Indeed, he has serviced the people of Liberia, church, community, government and party with diligence.

Meanwhile, the late Benjamin T. K. Blamo was born on 18 July 1940 in Kayken, Barclayville Chiefdom, Grand Kru County, unto to the blessed union of Gbojah Blamo and Doe Tena Weadee Taryonoh, both of whom predeceased him. He earned his education from the Fatima College now Our Lady of Fatima High School in Harper City, Marland County. He was the only child of his late mother but he has been blessed by the Almighty God with 14 children, 32 grand children and four great grand children.

He leaves to mourn his loss wife: Mrs. Rachel Valentine Blamo, fourteen (14) children: Mrs. Ajuah Blamo Sackor, Monrovia; J. Himie Dennis,USA; William Bill Blamo, USA; Benjamin T. K. Blamo, Jr., Monrovia; Victoria Taryonoh Blamo, Monrovia, Juwle Bernard Blamo,USA; William Blamo, USA; Roosevelt Blamo, Monrovia; Benetta Blamo, USA; Patricia Blamo, Monrovia; Joseph Blamo, Monrovia; Rachel Maway Blamo, Monrovia; Archie Doryen Blamo, Monrovia and Grace Blamo, Monrovia; 32 Grand Children and four Great Grand children and a host of sisters, brothers and relatives in the United States of America, Monrovia, Harper and Barclayville, Liberia.

The late Benjamin T. K. Blamo was Administrator; Educator; Faithful Servant of God; Patriot; Septuagenarian and a Dedicated Public Servant, earning him dozens of accolades.

The time has come for you to rest in peace, we will forever missed you “Teacher, Benjamin, Ben, Uncle, Father, Honorable”. REST IN PERFECT PEACE.