Liberia's Transport Minister Petition to Contest Top Post In Government

Lofa County Senatorial aspirant in the October 2003 presidential and general elections, Liberia’s Transport Minister, Joe W. Mulbah has received another petition from the people of the county, endorsing his candidacy.

The latest one from the sons and daughters of Zorzor District, Lofa County, brings to three the number of petitions Minister Mulbah has received since he decided to vie for a senatorial seat of Lofa County. He is presently an Associate Professor and Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Liberia.

In their four-page petition to the Senatorial aspirant, the Bluyeama Clan Youth for Development and Progress (BYOUDAP), said they will stand by Minister Mulbah until the entire process is concluded.

Speaking at a well-attended and elaborate occasion held last Sunday at Minister Mulbah’s residence in Jacob’s Town, Paynesville, the Lofa Youth Secretary General, Augustine T. Zaza said the University Professor and Media Executive is the best choice and the right man for the top post in the national legislature.

According to Mr. Zaza, Minister Mulbah with the help of others will bring peace in the country and the rebuilding of the county is paramount on his agenda.

In their petition, the people of Lofa pinpointed out that Prof. Mulbah if elected, will champion the cause of his people and stands to be the voice of the voiceless in the national legislature, adding that he is down to earth and that he has regards for the people of the county.

In his acceptance speech, Minister Mulbah applauded the people of Zorzor District for the petition, saying that it is time that the people hold together.

Minister Mulbah who said he was sad over the happenings in the country, called on the sons and daughters of the county to continue to pray to the Almighty God for the war to come to an end.

During the petition program, several personalities including chiefs, elders, and opinion leaders of Lofa made powerful and stimulating speeches, while culture and sasa groups kept the audience on their feet.

Lofans made it categorically clear that at no time that they give directives to the Clan Chief Zubah to petition Justice Minister Laveli Koboi Johnson for the senatorial seat of Lofa County.

In a strongest tongue, the citizens propounded that chief Zubah petitioning of Cllr. Koboi Johnson was at his own volution, thereby dissociating themselves from the petition that was presented to the Justice Minister.

The citizens said " we hereby warn our chiefs and elders in a very respectful manner to be mindful of how they engage into political activities without soliciting their view, something which they said had the tendency to create division among the people of Lofa.

Minister Mulbah who was born on June 26, 1956 in Montserrado county, hails from Sobblemah, Bluyeam Clan, Zorzor District, Lofa county.

He is a 1976 graduate of the William V. S. Tubman High and graduated from the University of Liberia (UL) in 1983 with a "BA" Degree in English and History, while in 1988 Minister Mulbah graduated with a "MA" Degree in Journalism from Wales University in Great Britain.

He also holds a " MA" Degree in Political Science from the University of Liberia and presently studying Law at the Louis Arthur Grimes School of Law.

The senatorial aspirant held several positions both in the Liberian media and government. He worked for several years with ELWA, Daily Observer Newspaper, Daily Star Newspaper, Durkpa Newspaper and the Sports world Newspaper.

In the government circle, Minister Mulbah serve for several years in various positions including Minister of Information, Advisor to President Charles G. Taylor on Communication and now Minister of Transport.

He is also the acting Chairman of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Liberia.