Chairman Bryant Admits Corruption in Government & Denounces U. N. Sanctions

By: Josephus Moses Gray
Jmoses1970@theperspective.org

 

 

The Perspective
Atlanta, Georgia
July 1, 2005

Chairman Gyude Bryant
The Chairman of the National Transition Government of Liberia (NTGL), Charles Gyude Bryant has admitted that there is rampant corruption in the power sharing government. Chairman Bryant who did not elaborate on the specifics in his admission attributed to the situation to the Comprehensive Peace Accord (CPA) signed 2003 in Accra, Ghana.

Addressing a major news conference at the Parlous of the Executive Manson on Tuesday, June 28, Chairman Bryant pointed to the current arrangement that is composed of people from different backgrounds including former rebels groups, political parties, civil society and pro-democracy organizations.

Despite public outcry over the corruption, Chairman Bryant previously challenged the public including the Liberian media to expose corruption and make available any evidence to substantiate their accusations.

The latest candid admission by the Chairman Bryant should be grounds for taking action against perpetrators of corruption, something that is gradually destroying the fabric of the Liberian society.

However, it is difficult to expect that the plenary of the National Transition Legislature Assembly (NTLA) and the Chairman will institute any serious actions against corrupt officials. Recently, the NTGL suspended its leadership including the Speaker and Deputy speaker, George Dweh and Eddington Varmanh for rampant corruption and administrative mal-practices.

Meanwhile, Chairman Bryant has vehemently denounced the extension of United Nations Sanctions on the nation’s diamond and timber industries, describing the sanction. In his reaction, the chairman said that at no time the UN Panel of Experts contacted him on sanctions busting.

Speaking on other major issues, Chairman Bryant revealed that Liberia would not be placed under UN trusteeship, noting that proposals to that effect have been withdrawn but did not further details.

He also used the occasion to call for reduction in the number of political parties and presidential aspirants. Currently, there are 30 registered political parties and over 40 presidential aspirants.

Chairman Bryant used the occasion to issue an uncompromising warning to those who engage into ritualistic killings, noting that any perpetrators caught and found guilty will face the full weight of the law, adding that he would not hesitate to sign a death warrant for any person convicted of such heinous acts.