Faire des rendez-vous électoraux des moments privilégiés de débat public sur toutes les questions fondamentales pour l’avenir de chaque pays, tel est l’objectif de cette initiative spéciale ÉLECTIONS 2017. L’élection présidentielle au Liberia est prévue le 10 octobre 2017. WATHI propose une sélection de documents sur le contexte politique , économique, social et sécuritaire du pays et les enjeux des prochaines années.
Election Liberia 2017
English
Making electoral period a privileged moment of public debate on all the fundamental issues for the future of each country is the objective of the Special Initiative ELECTIONS 2017 initiative. The presidential election in Liberia will take place on the 10th of October 2017. WATHI presents a selection of documents on the situation of the country looking at the political, security, economic and social dimensions and identifying the most important stakes for the upcoming years.
CANDIDATS
20 candidates are contesting to replace President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf for the Liberia 2017 elections. WATHI presents the biography and proposals of candidates.
Joseph Nyuma Boakai Birth place : November 30, 1944 in Worsonga in Foya District, Lofa County Political party : Unity Party Profession : Vice President Vision – « Think Liberia Love Liberia Build Liberia » Born in the remote village of Worsonga in Foya District, Lofa County, on November 30, 1944. He have been selected as running-mate to Madam Ellen Johnson Sirleaf in the 2005 General and Presidential Elections on the Unity Party ticket. Boakai was elected along with President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to chart a new course for Africa’s oldest Republic which is just emerging from a long and bitter civil war. During the 2011 Presidential Elections, Boakai, was again selected by Ellen Johnson Sirleaf to serve as her running-mate. He is President of the Liberian Senate and he presides two days a week over plenary sessions of that body. He performs supervisory functions over a number of institutions and agencies including the Liberia National Lotteries (LOTTO), the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA), the Liberia Agency for Community Empowerment (LACE), and the National Commission on Disarmament Demobilization Resettlement and Reintegration (NCDDRR). As Minister of Agriculture, he was responsible for national agricultural policy formation, Implementation Support and Research, Regulatory Services. He monitored activities and chaired boards of over 20 Agricultural Development projects and Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank and support institutions. He also chaired for one year, a 15 nation West African Rice Development Association (WARDA) and toured research projects of WARDA in Sierra Leone, Ivory Coast and Guinea Bissau. At the LPMC, he was the Chief Executive Officer and as the first Liberian Managing Director of that entity, he was responsible for export marketing of coffee, cocoa and palm kernel oil and was responsible for arranging purchase, shipment and handling of the PL-480 program from 1980-1984. He reviewed and evaluated the Liberian 1986 proposed Green Revolution and FAO World Bank 1986 Agricultural sector Review Document and evaluated AMSCO, Amsterdam Funded training program for projects in Uganda in 1994 and Tanzania in 1996. He is a holder of a B.A. degree in Business Administration from the University of Liberia and Advance Management Certificate GIMPA, Ghana. He speaks English, reads and writes Mendi and Kissi. He has been happily married since 1972 to Kartumu Y. Boakai. This union is blessed with four children (3 sons and 1daughter). He is the owner of LUSU Resource Corporation and co-owner of AGROMACHINES Liberia. The ways to implement his vision into programs if he is elected in October 2017: Think Liberia Love Liberia Build Liberia Improving Liberia’s Health Care Delivery System Improving Education & Equal Opportunities for All Providing Robust Economic Opportunities & Strong Liberianization Policy National Reconciliation, Justice & Peace For All Security, Equity, Rule of Law, Transparency & Accountability Environmental Protection Infrastructure: Improving Passable Roads, Electricity, Water & Sanitation Improving conditions for Women, Children & the Elderly Providing more Vocational & Technical Institutions for Youths Increased the participation of women in National Government Decentralization of Liberia Dual Citizenship Responsive Good Governance 
MacDella Cooper Birth place : March 13, 1977 in Monrovia Profession: Philanthropist Vision – « Leading Liberia with hope and reform » MacDella “Mackie” Cooper – also known to many as “Liberia’s Angel”– was born in Monrovia, Liberia. Cooper’s life was deeply affected by the Liberian Civil War in 1990s. As a teen, she lived in exile as a refugee in Côte d’Ivoire as thousands who fled the conflict that killed more than 200,000 people and displaced hundreds of thousands more. In 1993, she migrated to the United States to reunite with their mother in Newark, New Jersey. She was subsequently awarded a full scholarship to the College of New Jersey in Ewing where she earned a degree in Communications. A mother of three committed to contributing to a better world, Cooper divides her time between the United States, Liberia and other countries. In 2010, Cooper launched the MCF Academy, a boarding school for orphans in Charlesville, Margibi County, Liberia. Housing some 200 students on a secure campus, the Academy is Liberia’s first tuition-free boarding school. Its mission is to provide an improved quality of education and life prospects for orphaned and abandoned children in a safe environment that is also conducive to learning. Cooper’s dream is for the Academy – and the MCF Agency for Youth Development (which she also founded) – will foster future leaders who take pride in themselves and their country. A five-star platform of hope and reform The Cooper Commitment: Free education To improve the quality of secondary education and teaching and learning conditions, Cooper will ensure free and compulsory education for every Liberian child by sourcing and ensuring adequate and accessible schools and supplies – and developing a workforce pipeline of qualified and fairly compensated teachers. Universal healthcare Building on current President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s ambitious plan to introduce free healthcare for all, Cooper will ensure its financially sustainability; as well as implement equitable point-of-service, community. Electricity in every home Cooper will push toward more reliable and affordable connectivity and energy services. In particular, Cooper will expand access to electricity in remote areas that aren’t likely to be connected to the national grid in the foreseeable future, and promote nationwide use of renewable sources of energy away from more expensive imported fuel. Decentralization To advance a system of democratic governance that accelerates socio-economic development, Cooper will promote political will in support of decentralization as an integral element of postwar governance reform – which has thus far been absent. Additionally, Cooper will ensure adequate financial and human resources to support the programs associated with the legalizing reforms, including civic education and research. Land ownership As a child of American slaves, Cooper understands first-hand the divides of her country, and the plight of indigenous people. Cooper will advance their self-governance and legal recognition of customary rights. Through policy reforms, land dispute resolution and the promotion of community forestry development, Cooper will ensure fair distribution of land ownership.
Benoni Urey Birth date: June 22, 1957 Careysburg, Montserrado County, Liberia Political party:All Liberian Party (find here) Profession : Politician, philanthropist, and businessman Vision: “Safeguard and protect the Republic of Liberia, its freedom and people ” Benoni Urey matriculated into Cuttington University College in Bong County where he earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in 1979, majoring in General Science with emphasis in Chemistry. Whilst at Cuttington, he was elected and served as President of his Senior Class, and President of the Mason Social and Athletic Club. In recognition of his academic and on-the-ground excellence, Dr. Urey was awarded a Scholarship by the Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC). In 1986, through that award, he earned a Masters Degree in Public Finance and Human Resource Development, as well as a Master of Science Degree in Public Private Planning from the University of Southern California in the United States of America. CAREER After graduation from the University of Southern California, he returned to Liberia, and was appointed Deputy Managing Director for Planning and Training at the LEC Training Institute – a position he held from 1986 to 1990 when the civil conflict brought most activities to a halt. 1990 to 1992 – Dr. Urey worked as a Consultant at the African Development Bank (ADB) in Abidjan, the Ivory Coast in various capacities. 1993 – He was recruited and returned to Liberia, where he was appointed Managing Director of the Liberia Rubber Development Corporation in Bong County. 1995 – Dr. Urey was appointed President of the then inactive Agricultural Cooperative Development Bank (ACDB) by Professor Wilton Sankawulo, Chairman of the Interim Government at that time. 1996 – 2003 – The same Interim Government appointed him Commissioner of the Bureau of Maritime Affairs and President Charles Taylor reconfirmed this appointment after his election to the presidency. Dr. Urey held this position until October 2003, when, as a result of the Peace Accord in Ghana, he relinquished the position to the agreed upon Government of Chairman C. Gyude Bryant. 2009 – 2011 – Dr. Urey was elected by the City Council and served as Mayor of the City of Careysburg, an election which was subsequently endorsed by President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf. THE PHILANTHROPIST U-Foundation – Early 2014, U-Foundation, a charitable and non-governmental organization (NGO) was established by Dr. Urey’s wife, with a vision to work with vulnerable and disadvantaged individuals, families and communities through the provision of quality services and programs intended to bring them to a level of self-sustainability, independence and confidence. More info can be found here Vision and goals: 
Birth date : July 6, 1952 (age 65), Tapeta, Liberia Political party: Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction (find here) Profession : Humanitarian, politician, philanthropist and business Vision: “Convenant with Liberia : And MDR promise to keep” In 1971, while living in Monrovia, he joined the Liberian National Guard (LNG), which was transformed into the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) in the aftermath of Samuel Doe’s 1980 overthrow of President William R. Tolbert. A stern, often draconian, disciplinarian,[2] he served as aide-de-camp to Gen. Thomas Quiwonkpa, the Commanding General of the Armed Forces of Liberia, and accompanied him into exile in 1983, after Quiwonkpa was accused of plotting a coup against Doe. In September 1990 Johnson’s supporters abducted President Samuel Doe from ECOMOG headquarters in the Monrovia port district. Doe was tortured and executed in Johnson’s custody on September 9, with the spectacle videotaped and broadcast around the world. After Doe’s death Johnson briefly claimed the presidency of Liberia. Johnson’s claim to power ended following the consolidation of rebel power under Charles Taylor Political Career Johnson returned to Liberia in March 2004, and opted to represent his county at the Liberian Senate in 2005 special elections. His victory was overwhelming – accumulating 81,820 votes, while the runner-up, Saye-Taayor Adolphus Dolo, only managed 42,229 and had to settle as a junior Senator. Johnson ran in Liberia’s 2011 presidential election as the candidate of the newly formed National Union for Democratic Progress party. He won one Nimba county with 67.7% (110,735) of votes. He didn’t advance to the second round, but placed third, with 11.6% of total votes; the election was won by the incumbent, President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. Note- Apart from winning his county (Nimba), Prince Y. Johnson obtained less than 4% of votes in the rest of the counties, in the first round of the 2011 presidential and vice presidential elections. Prince Y Johnson will run for president on October 10 2017 under his party (Movement for Democracy and Reconstruction). Program For more info on his program visit here
Prince Yormie Johnson
Birth date : 1 October 1966 in Monrovia Political party : Congress for Democratic Change (find here) Profession : Humanitarian, politician, and retired professional footballer Vision: “The sub-standard education in the country, which he sees as a “national threat.” To fix this problem, he recommended investing resources in the training of teachers and reforming the sector, bearing in mind that education is the key to the social development and transformation. Early elections… Along with J Rudolph Johnson, George Weah obtained 28.3% (275,265) of total votes, and became first during the first round of the 2005 presidential and vice presidential elections. Out of fifteen (15) counties, the Congress for democratic change won Grand Degeh (88%.3 of votes), Grand Kru (50.5% of votes), Mont Serrado (37.4% of votes), Nimba (23.8% of votes), River Gee (49.9% of votes), and Sinoe (45.5% of votes). George Weah became second in Bomi County (24,8% of votes) behind President Sirleaf, and second in Grand Bassa (17.4% of votes) behind Charles Brumskin. After advancing to the second round, Weah won Grand Gedeh (96.4%), Grand Kru (78.3%), River Cess (50,8%), River Gee (69.0%), and Sinoe (86.4%). He lost the rest of the ten counties to President Sirleaf, and ended up losing the election with 40.6% (327,046) of total votes. In 2011, Winston Tubman ran for president the CDC party, and George Weah ran for Vice president. The two obtained 32,7% (394,370) of total votes in the first round of the 2011 presidential and vice presidential elections. The CDC party won Grand Gedeh (73.5%), Maryland (47.1%), and Mont Serrado (45.8%). The CDC became second in 10 counties behind President Sirleaf, and took third place in two counties (Grand Bassa and Nimba) behind Charles Brumskine, and Prince Y. Johnson. After advancing to the second round Tubman and Weah lost all counties and the election to Sirleaf and only winning 9.3% (62,207) of total votes.
George Tawlon Manneh Oppong Ousman Weah
Date de naissance : 27 avril 1951 Parti politique : Liberty Party Profession : Avocat à Brumskine and Associates Education : Master Droit Commercial, Bachelor Business et Administration publique Page Facebook ici Vision politique : 4R Présidentielles 2005… Avec sa colistière Amelia Ward, Mr Brumskine obtient 13,9% des votes avec 135,093 voix et occupe la troisième place durant le 1er tour des élections présidentielles et vice-présidentielles de 2005. Sur les quinze (15) comptés, le Liberty Party a remporté le Grand Bassa et le River Cess avec respectivement 58% et 46% des votes. Dans le compté de Margibi, M. Brumskine vient derrière Ellen Johnson Sirleaf avec un pourcentage de 18% contre 24%. A Mont Serrado, son parti occupe la troisième place (12,2%) derrière et G. Weah (37,4%) et E. Johnson Sirleaf (29,9%). Il arrive quatrième (4e) dans cinq (5) comptés (Bong – Maryland- Nimba –River Gee–Sinoe), cinquième (5e) dans cinq (5) comptés (Bomi – Gbarpolu – Grand Cape Mount – Grang Gedeh – Grand Kru). Le candidat du Liberty Party a occupé la neuvième (9e) place dans le compté de Lofa avec 4,2% des votes. Présidentielles 2011… Pour les élections présidentielles de 2011, M.Brumskine s’allie avec M. Siakor Franklin O pour le poste de Vice président. Ils occupent la quatrième place avec 5,5% des votes soit 68500 voix. Le Liberty Party a maintenu sa victoire dans le compté de Grand Bassa malgré un taux en baisse par rapport aux élections présidentielles de 2005. Il obtient 37,6% des votes devant Sirleaf et Tubman Winston A., respectivement 33,2% et 18 ,3%. Cependant dans le compté du River Cess, M. Brumskine cède sa place de leader au Unity Party de E. Johnson Sirleaf qui remporte 39% des votes suivi de Tubman Winston du National Democratic Party of Liberia (NDPL) avec 31,8% des votes. Le Liberty Party, vainqueur dans ce compté en 2005 arrive troisième avec 18,5% des votes. En plus du compté de River Cess, le Liberty Party a occupé la troisième (3e) place dans six (6) autres comptés avec des améliorations et des baisses de ses résultats en comparaison à ceux des présidentielles de 2005. Des améliorations sont notées dans les comptés de Boni, Bong et de Grand Gedeh où le parti de M. Brumskine était arrivé quatrième (4e). Cependant c’est dans le compté de Margibi que le Liberty Party enregistre son plus faible taux de vote par rapport à 2005. Il y obtient 6,8% des votes cédant son grand statut de vainqueur à la candidate du Unity Party qui voit largement son score de 2005 s’améliorer de 44,2% des votes, elle est suivie du couple Weah – Tubman du Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) qui obtient 38,1% des votes. Dans le compté de Lofa où le Liberty Party était arrivé neuvième (9e) à l’issu des élections de 2005, le parti de Charles Walker Brumskine occupe la quatrième (4e) place durant les élections de 2011 avec un taux de 1,7 % largement derrière Ellen Johnson Sirleaf qui en obtient 71%.
Charles Walker Brumskine
Birth date : December 7, 1956 (age 60) in Monrovia Political party : Alternative National Congress (find here) Profession : Humanitarian, politician, philanthropist and business Vision : « To Bring Liberia into the 21st Century » After graduation from high school, he matriculated to Cuttington University College for two years before leaving for the United States to further his studies at the Northern Illinois University, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and Economics, and an MBA in Finance from Atlanta University (currently Clark-Atlanta University) Cummings became the political leader of the Alternative National Congress in 2015, and announced his bid to run for president in 2016. After holding a county-by-county national presidential primary election, the first of its kind in Liberia, Alexander B. Cummings was endorsed as the Standard Bearer of the Alternative National Congress in Kakata, Margibi on April 29, 2017. Mr. Cummings joined The Coca-Cola Company, the world’s largest beverage manufacturer, in 1997 as Region Manager, Nigeria. In 2000, he was named President of the Company’s North & West Africa Division. In 2008, he was appointed Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of The Coca-Cola Company and has served in that capacity since that time. The ways to implement his vision into programs if he is elected in October 2017 Goal: Reduce by a third the level of illiteracy within 10 years, with the ultimate goal of achieving close to universal literacy over a thirty-year period. Policy: Study, adapt and employ strategies used by other societies, like Cuba, to successfully increase literacy levels in a short period of time. Create a national student corps program under which high school students who graduate from government-run schools will spend one year between graduation from high school and enrolment in college working on literacy campaigns outside their communities for a small stipend Goal: Create 1,000-2,000 commercial farmers over 5-10 years who are capable of large scale production of export crops (cocoa, coffee, mangoes, pineapples, bananas, plantains, papayas, etc.) Policy: A long term goal of turning these farmers into profitable commercial farmers should begin with training people from various local communities to be “farmer field school” technicians, who can teach famers in their local languages simple ways of improving farming methods and yields by employing proper planting and harvesting techniques and using inexpensive/readily available tools to fight pest and weed problems. Goal: Produce at least 200 doctors every year for the next 10 years Policy: Restore and possibly increase the $50 monthly stipend for medical students; ensure free education, housing and meal for medical students; make arrangements with teachings hospitals in the US, Europe and Asia (India, China, and Japan) for graduates of medical schools in Liberia to pursue specialized training, with the emphasis on primary health care training. Goal: Making the political process more democratic by amending constitution so that: City mayors are elected by the people and not appointed by the president; Only the people and not the president can remove elected tribal chiefs from office. Terms of office of members of the House of Representatives and the Senate are reduced from 6 and 9 years to 4 and 6 years respectively; (the current terms are too long and deprive the people of the opportunity to more frequently evaluate the performance of their elected representatives through the ballot box). For more info of his programs click here
Alexander B. Cummings
Birth place : Sinoe County Political party : Movement for Economic Empowerment (find here) Profession : Humanitarian, politician, and economist Vision : « Economic Empowerment of the Liberian People » Joseph Mills Jones earned a bachelor degree in economics from Cuttington College, now Cuttington University (Magna Cum Laude), completing his studies in less than the prescribed four years. He also holds master and doctorate degrees in economics from the American University, Washington, D.C. He later joined the Ministry of Planning and Economics Affairs as Chief Economist and Special Assistant to the Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs. He was appointed Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia in 2006, and subsequently reappointed in 2011 to a second five year term. Achievements Dr. Joseph Mills Jones has been fully involved in the restructuring of the Liberian economy. He was officially assigned to serve his country in a capacity to institute systems of reforms and policies to restore a genuine economy which was necessary due to the total decline of the nation’s infrastructures essential for sustainability and growth, as a result of decades of civil crisis, mismanagement, and corruption. Dr. Joseph Mills Jones worked very successfully to impact the revitalize the Credit Unions Sector and expanding its membership from 29 Unions to 375 Unions in Liberia, and he has strongly supported the Liberian Small Businesses, Entrepreneurs, and Marketers Program 3. Create better job opportunities rooted in the private sector mining, energy, manufacturing and agricultural industries.
Dr. Joseph Mills Jones
Wendell J. E. McIntosh
Political Party: Change Democratic Action (CDA)
Isaac Gbombadee Wiles
Political Party: Democratic Justice Party (DJP)
Oscar Cooper
Political Party: Independent Candidate
Aloysius William Kpadeh
Political Party: Independent Candidate
Yarkpajuwur N. Mator
Political Party: Independent Candidate
Kennedy Gbleyah Sandy
Political Party: Liberia Transformation Party (LTP)
Henry Boima Fahnbulleh, Jr.
Political Party: Liberian’s People’s Party (LPP)
Simeon C. M. Freeman
Political Party: Movement for Progressive Change (MPC)
William Wiah Tuider
Political Party: New Liberia Party (NLP)
George Sluwer Dweh, Sr.
Political Party: Redemption Democratic Congress (RDC)
Macdonald A. Wento
Political Party: United People’s Party ( UPP)
Jeremiah Z. Whapoe
Political Party: Vision for Liberia Transformation (VOLT)
VIDEOS
WATHI sélectionne des vidéos en lien avec l’élection présidentielle du 10 octobre 2017 et les propositions des principaux candidats.
OPINIONS
