Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

The outbreak of Ebola in Liberia is not a surprise to the Sirleaf Government. Prior to the first case in Foya, Lofa County, the Liberian Government knew that the deadly plague had surfaced in Guinea near the Liberian border and was killing people in that country. Though they heard and saw on TV how dangerous this disease was, the government did nothing.

The borders, though porous, remained open.  No education campaign for the citizenry was launched.  No working gears for our healthcare workers were purchased and distributed.  In other words, there was no sense of urgency on the part of the so-called Iron Lady. This is the same Iron Lady who said the following in her first inaugural message:

“Yet, we are humbled and awed by the enormity of the challenges that lie ahead – to heal our nation’s wounds, redefine and strengthen its purpose, make democracy a living and effective experiment, promote economic growth, create jobs, revitalize our health and educational facilities and services, and quicken the pace of social progress and individual prosperity in this country.”

But President Sirleaf was just telling Liberians and the International Community what she felt that they wanted to hear.  So despite the outbreak of Ebola in Liberia, she was globetrotting.  When Benoni Urey complained, she unleashed her hired pens and talking-heads to chase him out of town.  Urey demanded apology from the mansion for the insults he had received and got zero apology.  Sadly, his recommendations that President Sirleaf should stay in the country and combat the Ebola plague head-on, were relegated to the back burner.  And the President and her Government decided to continue their slumber. 

So what is responsible for the spread of this deadly plague is bad policy coupled with corruption under Madam Sirleaf’s rulership. .The President is not setting good examples for her cronies or government officials to emulate.  What happened to the millions of dollars allotted to the Health Ministry, including the earlier thirteen million dollars from the EU? 

It has been nine years since she became president, why don’t we have:

1. Working gears for our health workers.  The Ebola has killed more healthcare workers including medical doctors than anywhere in the world.
   
2. Why don’t we have adequate ambulances for each county?  Nowadays, if you are sick or your relative is sick, no taxi driver will stop for you.  This is why when some people are sick due to Ebola or even malaria, they die in their houses.
3. Why in this 21st century, there is no 911 system in the country?  If Ebola attacks someone in a village, how will the people call for immediate help?
4. Why don’t we have crematory equipment?   Funerals services are head for people who died from the plague.
5. Despite the fact that we are the oldest independent country in Africa, why don’t we have national TV or radio station that can cover the entire nation to carry out Ebola awareness, etc.?
   
   
6. The President promised to electrify Monrovia in 6 months, why only (mostly) the areas her cronies live have electricity? The health centers in the country have to fend for themselves.

Therefore, the president does not deserve any kudos for doing nothing: the health services have not been revitalized.  The prosperity that she that she bragged about can only is seen in the pockets of her cronies.  The educational system is worse than it has even been – even during the Samuel Doe regime.  Job creation is zero.  Though hailed internationally as a President who is fighting corruption and promoting transparency, corruption is the best friend of the president.  The international community hailed her that way because of the millions of dollars she pumps in to campaign for and polish her image.

She is no Iron Lady.  She says that people must stop eating bush meat, but bush meat is in abundance on the local market now than it was at the time she made the announcement through her EPA.  Worst of all, majority of the meat comes from neighbouring Guinea and Sierra Leone.

It will therefore make sense for any contribution from Liberians and International Partners to be channeled through International NGOs, instead of sending it directly through the government of Liberia. The Sirleaf Government is very corrupt and has no agenda for the safety and wellbeing of the citizens and security of the homeland.

Ebola Statistics
Guinea - 339 deaths, 460 cases
Liberia - 156 deaths, 329 cases
Sierra Leone - 233 deaths, 533 cases
Nigeria - 1 death, 1 case