2014 Cabinet Flunkies and Achievers in Ellen Government

Unlike other media institutions and organizations which usually flowers honors on public officials at the end of every year, we have chosen not to follow the honoring band wagon, instead the NEW VISION has a tradition at scrutinizing, the performances of public officials including senior cabinet ministers, and heads of public institutions to remind them of their pitfalls and achievements in office during the 2014 Year under review; reports Jacob T. Newton.

The Johnson-Sirleaf administration has made several promises and set aside an agenda with specific target objectives to achieve during the year under review. As the Sirleaf -led Administration enters its ten year in Office tomorrow, Friday, January 16, 2015, the NEW VISION is pleased to present to its reading public the achievements and failures of cabinet ministers whose served during the year, thereby highlighting the successes, misfortunes, pitfalls and challenges that each of these senior encountered.

Achieving these objectives for the benefit of the Liberian population would not become a reality unless those assigned with serious responsibilities of realizing President Johnson Sirleal’s agenda are prepared to make the difference at their respective offices. It is against this background that this paper decided to grade the performances of public officials and also highlight their activities in the content of achievements and failures for the Year 2014.

We believe in a better and prosperous Liberia since indeed this is the only country that we belong to and as such it requires every Liberian’s collective contributions to move this country forward. Midway into her second term, President Johnson-Sirleaf has acknowledged some of the problems in her administration and has put her senior officials on alert that changes are in the making, a statement captured in her news briefing regularly.

In her inaugural speech President Johnson Sirleaf promised to change the image of Liberia for the better and improve the livelihood of every Liberian coupled with the restoration of essential basic social services. But have the President and her team lived up to their own chosen assignments to the aspirations of the Liberian people? With just 24 hours since the UP led government took office the government appears to be making some progress in fulfilling some of its deliverables but the issue of corruption remains a major problem. To date public transport, better health delivery system, standardized feeder road network have been addressed.

Up to date, government’s public relations still remains poor as majority of the ministries, corporations and agencies run dead websites, with some having no website to follow their activities, as a result, those in the diaspora solely relied on the online websites which usually carried biased reports against the government. This area is one of the major shortcomings of government, therefore placing it in a disadvantaged position to recount positivity in the country and to dispel negativity in the diaspora.

During the nine-year period under review, the government has scored some successes in the areas of the restoration of certain essential basic social services, increment in Civil servants salaries, entrancing Liberia’s ties with powerful nations as well as improving revenue generation, increase in civil servants’ monthly salary, settlement of Liberia’s external and domestic debt, rehabilitation of major roads, restoration of electricity and safe drinking water to part of the Monrovia and its environment and the stability in the country.

The NEW VISION recollects the government’s promises, figuring out successes and failures during the past nine years of the UP led government. It is worth noting that some cabinet ministers and directors performed relatively well while others performed miserably to the disbelief of the public as they could not measure up to the period they have occupied their respective offices for the period under review.

Considering the scores of cabinet ministers and their senior government officials for the period, the NEW VISION through mathematical calculation arrived at its final Grade Points Average (GPA). It is in this light that we have decided to place our cabinet ministers both present and former and heads of government agencies into public scrutiny.

Considering every variable, the question on the minds of Liberian is “Has the Johnson Sirleaf’s ten years in office brought about improvement in the country and any change in the lives of ordinary Liberians or was this year a big disappointment?

The NEW VISION editorial staffs from a separate and combined perspective collectively report on how much the functionaries of government achieved and what were their failures and successes during the year under review, with an extra result of each senior public official including the President, Vice President, Speaker, Chief Justice and President Pro-Tempore.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

Score “B”

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf however with ten years in office, she has made progress in reestablishing Liberians' reputation in the international community and in improving the country's diplomatic ties with other countries, thus ameliorating Liberia's negative image to that of a positive image. During these years, the President received unprecedented international acclamation. Through the efforts of the Liberian leader, Liberia has gained her rightful place in the comity of nations, marked by debt waiver and awarding of huge grants to the government. Other areas in which the President performed excellently well include free speech, freedom of the press, stability and free movement.

During these difficult ten years especially the 2014 year under review, the president during the period under review experienced some tough time especially the handling of the deadly Ebola Virus but was able to withstand the challenges and difficulties being cognizant that tough times do not last only tough people last. Some of these complexities, which in some cases impeded her government's growing progress, include the failures of some officials of government to justify the confidence placed in them.

During the year under review, the president has worked so assiduously and diligently to change the once negative posture of Liberia to a positive one, restoring the country's image among the comity of nations and treating issues of political and economy in an astute and established manner. Both internationally and nationally, she is well respected.

Besides, the President restored electricity and safe drinking water to parts of Monrovia for the first time in over 14 years, the government is currently proceeding with plans for the expansion of power and safe drinking water and the conduct of a feasibility study for the reconstruction of the Mount Coffee Hydro Dam. Her government has also commenced the rehabilitation of destroyed infrastructures including roads, and public buildings, with the rehabilitation of several roads.

The pavement of the Cotton-tree - Buchanan Highway, Caldwell to Louisiana road, SKD Boulevard, Pipeline road, A.B. Tolbert and GSA road, and Duport and Rehab roads have all been completed and dedicated. This exercise includes the successful rehabilitation of the various road in the capital, Monrovia and the Monrovia-Roberts field highway. While the rehabilitation of the Red-light to Ganta highway has started.

Another major achievement is the completion of works on laterite road leading to Belleh Yallah, the onetime infamous prison. Another important achievement is the George Walker Bush's bridge in Barclayville, Grand Kru County. Over the years, successive governments have spent millions of United States dollars on the maintenance of laterite roads. All these feeder roads are vital linkages for farm-to-market roads to major highways in the country, as they connect cities, districts, towns, clans and villages.

During the period under review, her administration is working very hard to pave the Gbarnga to Mandekorma highway and also planned to modernize the Freeport-Somalia Drive by extending the route to ease traffic congestions.

In the shortest time, the President was able to reconnect Liberia to the world, occasioned by the multiple presentations of Letters of Credence by representatives of foreign countries, and the visits of powerful world leaders including past and current presidents, heads of state, prime ministers and foreign ministers, representatives of multilateral organizations, heads of UN specialized agencies and powerful women leaders around the world.

Major among the government's set back include corruption, hike in the prices of basic commodities as well as unemployment, inadequate better feeder roads and some poor health delivery system, bribery in schools and unequipped teachers. The President has admitted that corruption is systemic in her Government and also disclosed that there are several cases of corruption submitted by her to the minister of justice. For the ten-year under review, President Johnson Sirleaf obtained a Grade Point of “B”.

Vice Presidency Joseph Boakai

Score For 2014: “Grade C “

The traditional role as expected has been a very quiet one for the Vice President. On the legislative front, Veep Boakai has played a nominal role in assisting the Administration passed key legislations unlike in other countries where the passage of major legislation is buttressed by the influence of the Vice President. He is a very calm and soft-spoken individual who many political pundits believe is not capable of running the affairs of the nation when the tenure of President Johnson-Srleaf expires, three years from now. His impact has not been felt to convince the people that indeed he is the right man to replace President Johnson-Sirleaf in 2018.he needs to play a more proactive role on the political field, although the post of a Vice President around the globe is a service to the president of a state, the position which is being occupied by a respective son of Lofa, Josph Boakai, has been in the shallow of the president. Unlike the past previous years, the year 2014 could probably go down as perhaps the most active period of Vice President.

The often-laid back second in command was lured out of his shell in the wake of repeated calls for President Johnson-Sirleaf to step aside and turn power over to him. Veep Boakai denounced the calls with a stern declaration that he had no interest in taking over from the president who is performing well to change the image of her country. "For all of those calling for the President to resign or be removed and that I take over, let me pray that you hold your peace. I come to make it absolutely clear in no uncertain terms that Unity Party (UP) and I have absolutely, positively, no interest, whatsoever, in an ascendancy to power." The Veep office has no website to update the public especially diaspora Liberians on government's progress in the country. For the year under review, he has obtained a Score of “Grade C “

Speaker Alex Tyler

Score: “C “

Speaker Tyler administration persistently has been battling alleged allegation of corruption, since then he has managed to thwart an allegation of corruption. He managed to secure the support of the majority bloc of the House members in defeating controversial legislation that he believes is not in the interest of the Liberian people. Under his leadership he has ensured couple of budget debates to improve the transparency and accountability of the budget process. He has proven to be interested in working with opposition like the former speaker Snowe and both are believed to have formed a good working relationship during the year under review.

He has appointed key and committed to members to major committees in the House of Representative. During the year under review, the Low house under the spent too much time debating how much they should be paid and never really came up with any legislation that improved the lives of ordinary Liberians or to increase civil servants monthly salary as well as the decent work bill. The winners here were lawmakers who all received big fat salary rises and several weeks' vacation under the pulse of an agriculture break. Conversely, he and his team have been gravely blamed for passing bills that were totally far from being people-centered. Under his leadership, several bills and acts have been passed but on the contrary, his administration is wildly blamed for passing into law questionable laws. The House of Representative Website contains outdated information, reports, news and hardly updated with fresh information.

Speaker Tyler obtained a Grade Point of “C”

Chief Justice Francis Korkpor

Score: “B“

During the period under review, Supreme Court of Liberia under Justice Francis Korkpor leadership has handed down its opinion without favor or fear, this has brought great respect to the highest court. The court during the year under review has ruled against President Johnson-Sirleaf as well as the First Branch of government. He is accredited for instituting sound and independent judgment as enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Liberia, undertaking developmental program and bringing respect to the judicial system. He recently began getting tough in picking bones especially with those who are Benton grossly disrespecting the highest court in the land-a vivid example is the suspension for a former Minister of Justice, Christina Tah from practicing law in Liberia. On a positive note, Circuit Court Judges now have jeeps to facilitate their jobs and free movement without imposed hurdles.. The provision of the vehicles if used properly could enhance the performance of the judiciary. He is credited for upgrading the infrastructure of the seat of the judicial. He is calm, incorruptible, people centered oriented person, soft spoken with a robust drive in weeding out corruption gradually in the various courts.. In this light, he has obtained a Grade Point of “B“

Former Senate Pro Tempore Findley

Score: “D“

Former Senator Findley has played a low key role as head of the powerful senate and appears to agree with virtually everything the Executive says or does. The upper house remains consumed by an intense with oil law and bills. No real effort to make life better for the average Liberian Simply put. He has made the post war government. He's discussions sound as if he is the mouth piece for the executive branch of government. During the year under review, the senate under the former senate pro tempore spent too much time debating how much they should be paid and never really came up with any legislation that improved the lives of ordinary Liberians or to increase civil servants monthly salary as well as the decent work bill. His clones to the presidency caused him his lucrative senate pro-tempore job. The winners here were lawmakers who all received big fat salary rises and several weeks' vacation under the pulse of an agriculture break. Grade “D”

Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan

Score: “ B “

Foreign Minister Augustine Ngafuan sought a foreign policy initiative aimed at improving Liberia’s image as a responsible member within the comity of nations. The Ministry of Foreign made tremendous strive to looby with the international community in securing support for Liberia in fighting the deadly Ebola virus and the outcome of international efforts is overwhelming. During the height of the Ebola epidemic in Liberia which caused the President to impose a virtual travel ban on herself, the burden of advocating for Liberia internationally - at ECOWAS, AU and the UN devolved largely on the shoulders of Foreign Minister.

Under the Ngafuan leadership, Liberian diplomatic missions with multiple representations abroad assiduously continue to perform the multifarious task of Foreign Policy objectives of the country, despite inadequate budgetary support due to financial constraint facing the government. During the period under review, our country’s international status and standing among the comity of nations have improved immensely, while Liberia has regained its voting rights in several international organizations since the Sirleaf’s leadership succeeded in writing off the country’s debts. The MOFA has budgetary constraints but it appears that a remedy may be in sight. The Ngafuan administration needs to address major issues affecting the smooth operation of Liberian diplomatic missions. The Ministry operates a standard website which is regularly updated, serving as a source of information for diaspora Liberians especially those diplomatic communities. For the three years in office, he has obtained a Score “B “

Finance Minister Amara Konneh

Score: “C+”

The status of the nation’s economic is a major concern and needs the Finance Minister to expertise how to change the current state of the nation’s economy. The persistent shortfall in the national budget shows that the present team at the Ministry of finance is unable to raise the needed revenue to support the budget. His biggest short-coming is the exchange rate of the Liberian dollar to US dollars on the market which stands between one USD to 85-86 Liberian Dollars. Although the minister has won an international accolade was the best Finance Minister in Africa for 2013 for which we are congratulating him, but has he realized that all are not well at relates the status of the economic. Score “C+”

Former Justice Minister Christiana Tah

Score: “D“

The latest decision by the Supreme Court of Liberia to ban the Minister of Justice undermines the Minister Credential and experience. This is a major blow for such a public servant. During the year under review, the justice Minister has suffered a major blow with her suspension by the nation’s higher court, the Supreme Court of Liberia, while a report was released by Human Rights Watch that corruption is rampant in the Liberian police force and calling on the government rein in police abuse before the UN mission in Liberia starts pulling out later this year dampened the MOJ during the course of the year. Justice has been elusive for many who cannot afford one in a system consistently by lambasted by international stakeholders as being susceptible to bribery and corrupt jury pools. It is expected that the newly appointed Minister, Cllr. Benedict Sannoh was handled cases of corruption on the books and based on findings of both the General Auditing Commission and the Liberia Anti-Corruption Corruption.

The major problem facing the ministry was summed up aptly by the former minister Christiana Tah during the course of the year when she remarked that the country's justice system is being seriously undermined by the lack of adequate capacity in various sectors of law enforcement. "With all the legislations and anti-corruption instruments that have been put in place to fight corruption, we should all look at the issue of capacity. Every one of us including the Ministry of Justice, the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission and the General Auditing Commission are suffering from capacity problems." This remains complicated by the fact that most Liberians especially those in the rural areas continue to depend on traditional means to get justice.. It is not known if the Ministry has a website as regard informing the larger population of unfolding happenings at the Ministry to give diaspora Liberians vivid picture of the actual government progress. Grade “D”

Defense Minister Brownie Samukai

Score: “F”

During the year under review, Minister Brownie Samukai was forced to apologize to President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf and his colleagues in government in the aftermath of comments made against them in a secret recording carried leaked by the former Managing Director of the Roberts International Airport (RIA) Ellen Cockrum. His involvement in the Cockrumgate has undermines the Minister and bring to question his own credibility. It is no doubt that such a professional blunders will hunt the current defense minister for life, as he cannot be trusted with the state security.

During the year, the Ministry of National Defence witnessed ups and downs characterized by some level of success and massive failure that has already created image problem for the newly trained Armed Forces of Liberia. From appointing the first Liberian Army Chief of Staff, soldiers of the army were involved in the fracas at the infamous quarantine of the West Point community which led to the shooting to death of 13 year old Shaki Kamara. Score: “F”

Minister of State Edward McClain

Score: “C “

The Minister of States for President Affairs, Dr. Edward McClain, a dedicated son of the Southeastern county of Grand Kru has been performing his responsibilities among which include coordinating activities and operations of the Office of the President of the Republic of Liberia as well as providing support to the President in carrying out the Executive Functions per the mandates of the president. He is respected and tackles his job eloquently with them true spirit of nationalism, patriotism and professionalism. He from the strike of any imagination is the right man for Ellen’s ears. Under his leadership, the Executive Mansion’ website’s contents have been improved and regularly updated. Many described him as a kind hearted Liberian and dedicated public service ensuing that the office of the president is well respected.

The Ministry is being credited with helping to stop the various questionable contracts and agreements signed in the past, thus reliving government of unnecessary financial burdens." Many blamed him for failure to adequately vet nominees to positions came to light when President Sirleaf was forced to accept the request of Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell to withdraw her nomination for the position of Minister of Education over issues of her purported U.S. citizenship. For the eight years in office he has obtained a Score “C “

Health Minister Walter Gwenigale

Score “D”

Health Minister Walter Gwenigale was always at the center of controversies, refusing to reinstate dismissed health workers and also failing to put in place measures to address the welfare of health workers including the dismissal of dozens of nurses at the John F. Kennedy medical Hospital. The year under review was confronted by the deadly Ebola outbreak resulted in a complete collapse of the entire health system brought Liberia to a momentary standstill and economic and social activity to a halt. Liberians died of common diseases because the Ministry could not put in place measures to provide health care delivery services to a population hit by Ebola.

Ebola exposed the weak and terrible health sector of Liberia as the virus tore apart the entire health sector with hospitals, clinics and other health facilities shutting down. People were left at the mercy of death with malaria, typhoid and other common diseases killing thousands of people because the Health sector collapse to one virus-Ebola. It took the support of Liberia’s international partners to safe a nation at the verge of complete catastrophe with people lying on the floor and dying on main streets. When Ebola started, the country could not boast of up to four ambulances as Liberians could not depend on the sector to save their lives. Nurses, doctors and other health care providers consistently complained of low incentives which could not be addressed by the poor health sector. GRADE: D

Ministry of Education Etmonia Tarpeh

Score: “F”

President Sirleaf’s branding of the education system "a mess" requiring a complete overhaul, days after all 25,000 high school students sitting state university entrance exams failed was obviously a low point for the ministry. "The students' failure did not come from the university, but rather from the schools that prepared them. The result is alarming," Johnson-Sirleaf said in a statement. The President recently admitted that Liberian education system was "in a mess" and noted that the system needed reform; the president description has again surfaces when out of the 15,000 candidates, only 16 candidates constituting 0.6% made a successful pass in both Mathematic and English Exams while 14,984 candidates constituting 99% performed very poorly in both subjects.

"It tells me that the educational system is a mess." When the University of Liberia announced that nearly 25,000 students had failed test for admission to the country’s highest institution of learning.

The Ministry of Education under Minister Etmonia Tarpeh cannot boast of major achievement during the course of the year. The Ministry of Education has not been able to monitor schools and ensure that school facilities are up to standard, providing education for students. Some high schools are run from private homes, lacking laboratory, libraries and other basic needs for students yet the Ministry has proven weak to inspect and make these schools have the necessary systems in place before operating as full high schools. Many University graduates are finding it difficult to perform in work places, further indication that the country education system is very weak. The Ministry operates a dead and poor website which is hardly updated with latest news as regard unfolding happenings at the Ministry to give diaspora Liberians vivid picture of the actual government progress. Score: “F”

Transport Minister Angela Cassell Bush

Score “F”

The Ministry of Transport is one Ministry of government that is purely focused on inspection for payment of vehicles registration and other income generating aspects instead of ensuring adherence to the transport regulations. The ministry lacks new ideas how to address the ailing transportation situation and the hacking of transportation fares by drivers. The ministry is poorly run by its officials. The Ministry lacks system as employees of the ministry hardly seat in offices instead are always on the Ministry’s stirs hustling visitors to bribe them to process documents such as vehicle registration. Overloading by vehicles, defective cars and other transport related issues are not effectively monitored by the Ministry. Several vehicles go all year round without registration but yet they ply the streets.

Some vehicles that also paid for license plates during the year are yet to receive the plates with the Ministry unable to ensure fast production of license plates. Commercial drivers decide their own transport fares and charge passengers. Minister Angela Cassell Bush who is new in the position is very unpopular among the employees of the Ministry of foreign Affairs where she formerly worked. She was responsible for the dismissals of several employees. The Ministry in collaboration with the Liberian National Police successfully stopped motorbikes from plying the main streets, something that has reduced the number of roads accidents in Monrovia. The Ministry of Transport has been unable to ensure adherence to stipulated transport fares, leaving the public at the discretion of commercial drivers who hike fares at will and determine their transport fares. GRADE Score “F”

Information Minister Lewis Brown

Score: “C-”

The Minister Lewis Brown while facing senate confirmation four years ago described MICAT under former Minister Sieh as a “sleeping giant” before his eyes has now gone into perpetrated coma. During the year, the sour relationship between the Ministry and the Independent Press body-Press Union of Liberia deepened owing to the Ministry’s decision to accredit independent journalists and media houses; as well as the detention of front Page editor, Rodney Sieh. The Ministry’s weekly news briefing provides opportunity for newsmakers and journalists to keep abreast of the government’s message. Often times during the course of the year, the disseminators of the government’s message have been caught in difficult positions trying to explain their way out of unpopular controversies in the court of public opinion. Both the West Point shooting incident and the President’s attempt to enforce an executive order prior to the just-ended elections were greeted with public angst.

During the year in review, the messengers’ messages were sometimes lost in translation as officials came under numerous attacks. Today, very little is heard about Liberia’s traditional performers, artists or musicians. The government ministry responsible for developing and disseminating “factual” information about Liberia’s culture and tourism at home and abroad has deviated from its core mandate and has instead been relegated to a mouthpiece for the presidency and minimizing the effectiveness of the press secretary’s position. The ministry has watered down its mandate and now tasked itself with disseminating government’s policies and programs through its regular Thursday Press Briefing, and press Releases.

Score: “C-”

Internal Affairs Minister Morris Dukuly

Score: “C”

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is still a Monrovia based; the Ministry impact is yet to be felt across the country. The ministry’s handling of the controversial Female Genital Cutting issue remains a recurring problem while the mis-management of the county Development Funds and the Social Development Funds remain a major concern.

The Ministry of Internal Affairs is yet to handle the issue of 141 Cities, 244 Townships, 129 Districts, 240 Chiefdoms, 580 Clans and 1198 General Towns in the country which takes lots of money from government. With the Liberian government spending thousand monthly on payments of Chiefs, and other local officials, the Ministry also embarked on a program to reduce the number of cities in the South Eastern part of the country. The Ministry continued its ambitious plan for the decentralization of Liberia known as one of the critical reform pillars of the Government but on the other hand, a statement attributed to the Minister, Morris Dukuly in which he is perceived to have referred to Grand Gedeans as ‘Chicken Rogue’ raised alarm and led to widespread condemnation from cross section of Liberians with mounting calls for the resignation of the minister. Grade “C”

Former Public Works Minister Weeks

Score “F”

The Ministry of Public Works under the former Minister, Dr. Antoinette Weeks took the headlines for all the wrong reasons ranging from failures to rehabilitate damaged roads, awarding contracts to failed companies, insulting subordinates, amongst others, Weeks tenure as Minister was something employees at the Ministry and even the Government of Liberia will not want to remember. During the year, Liberia witnessed one of the worse years of flooding with drainages clothed, major streets flooded with water and the Ministry of Public Works unable to make any major intervention. Minister Week’s fistfight with other officials of the Ministry including the physical assault against her deputy, Claude Langley remains a low performance by any Ministry of Government in recent years.

She has been replaced by William Gyude Moore who has shown what he can do to able the Ministry regain public confidence and keep it back on track in the wake of the high need for improved infrastructure in the country. The new Minister has on several occasions given his blue print to the press and the Liberian society what he intended to achieve.

GRADE Score: F

Sports Minister Eugene Nagba

Score “C”

The Ministry of Youth and Sports during the year, there is no sustainable youth employment or empowerment program with the Ministry heavily relying on donors. All other sporting activities in the country showed poor performance during the year and with Ebola making the holding of the annual National County Sports Meet Tournament impossible, the Ministry has nothing substantial to boast about as achievement in the sporting arena. Even before the outbreak of the Ebola virus which led to the suspension of all sporting activities in the country failed to live up the expectation of the public.

Liberia remains rock bottom in major sporting activities in the West African sub region and the world at large. The Liberia National Team, the Lone Star performed poorly in the preliminary rounds of qualifiers for the biggest African sporting event, the African Cup of Nations. Liberia poor showing in the preliminary rounds of qualifying for the 2015 Edition of the African Cup of Nations, especially falling in minnow Lesotho was one of the worst years in the history of Liberian football. The ministry major achievement under the period is the appointment several former foreign professional players to serve as coaches for the various teams including the Senior Lone Star and all other junior teams. Score “C”

Commerce Minister Axel Addy

Score: “ C”

Consumers continue to look over the Ministry of Commerce and Industry shoulder to see how well the ministry keeps tabs on price control. While the ministry lacks enforcement power to drastically punish corrupt business institution. The image of the Ministry has been very negative in recent past due to corrupt practices by it inspectors. The public remain unconvinced and are looking to see results. However, the Ministry is persistently being accused of corruption, of receiving bribery from business houses and institutions .The government ministry responsible for monitoring and regulating prices of essential goods, establishing and regulating commodity, trade standards; establishing and enforce standards for business practices has been undergoing a rebranding under Minister Axel Addy who took over in 2012.

Addy, looking to answer the ministry’s critics has been surprising petrol dealers with surprise visits to filling stations and businesses to make sure that prices are not being inflated. The nationwide inspection of businesses by the Ministry is not intended to punish businesses found in violation of any regulations, but to create awareness about the Ministry of Commerce and Industry’s regulations for business entities operating in the country in a bid to ensure compliance. Grade “C”

Lands, Mines Minister Patrick Sendolo

Score: “C“

Past officials booked recently for corrupt practices have undermined the credibility of this Ministry. However, the current team at the ministry is somehow doing its best but must go beyond mere pronouncement to fight corruption in the Mining Sector as well as the sale of lands by corrupt individuals. The Ministry is yet to find a solution to the rampaging sale of fake lands by people with questionable characters. The Ministry of Lands, Mines and Energy, in close collaboration with the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC), officially inaugurated the Liberia Accelerated Electricity Expansion Project, an exercise which is expected to expand and distribute electricity from Monrovia to Kakata, Margibi County.

The initiation of the project also means that all pre-conditions for the project's implementation have been met by the Government of Liberia; including signing of subsidiary agreement between the Ministry of Finance (MOF) and the Liberia Electricity Corporation; signing of the Tripartite agreement amongst China Union, LEC, and the GOL, as well as ratification of the financing agreement by the National Legislature. The Ministry operates a poor website which is hardly updated with latest news as regard unfolding happenings at the Ministry to give diaspora Liberians vivid picture of the actual government progress. Grade “C”

Gender Minister Duncan-Cassell

Score “C”

Access to education for girls and disadvantaged youths were major problem for the Ministry. Ebola may have propelled the problem to an even higher height. The outbreak will no doubt impact children, particularly girls, who have been out of school for several months now giving rise to many parents sending their youngsters to the streets to sell goods. It is a serious problem that could dog post-Ebola Liberia and beyond. Score “C”

AGRICULTURE Minister Cheneweath

Score “F”

Besides donors sponsored projects the Ministry is unable to show evidence of its own programs and projects to help with the food crisis facing the country in the wake of Ebola. GRADE: F

Labor Minister Neto Leighe

Score “C”

The Ministry of Labor made no remarkable achievement during the year 2014 and like other ministries and agencies of government the blame could be placed on the Ebola outbreak. More jobs were lost due to the closure of several businesses and the Ministry will have to look into numerous complaints. It is expected that the New Minister, Neto Lieghe will work over time to restore public credibility. Score “C”

POST Minister Norkeh

Score ‘C”

The Ministry of Post and Telecommunication under the leadership of Dr. Fredrick faces serious budgetary situation thus impeding the function of the ministry. Its remains incapacitated to perform and despite its goal of trying to post 78 post offices across the country, ensuring the movement of mails in rural Liberia due to the lack of vehicles remains a daunted task. With the rising influence of emails and social media, the Ministry is racing against time to adapt even as it struggles toward making mailing facilities accessible to the Liberian people regardless locations. During the course of the year under review, the Ministry set up 25 post offices across the country in the 15 political sub-divisions as part of its Five-Year Work Plan to improve postal and telecommunications services in the country. Score ‘C”