Correcting Untruths

Correcting Untruths

By Ellen Johnson Sirleaf

August 30, 2002

I have read with alarm the comments relating to me in Dr. H. Boima Fahnbulleh's salvo of 28 August "When Fools Become Critics: The Platitudes of Ike Coleman" which is carried by "The Perspective" today, 29 August.

Although over the years I have developed a thick skin and learned to accept unfair criticisms from the many who are jealous of my achievements, I cannot let the untruths in that statement go unchallenged.

The facts are as follows:

1. I was a member of the 1979 Brownell Commission and I defended and remain proud of the recommendations of that famous report which, unfortunately, were never implemented.
2. I was not then a member, and hence did not attend or participate, when the Commission's report was presented and discussed by the Cabinet. In keeping with my established principle and policy, I also did not attend the subsequent meeting of the TWP in Buchanan when the report was discussed.

There are several well respected and relevant persons who can attest to these simple truths.

Finally, a few words on Liberia's hosting of the OAU summit in 1979 to which Dr. Fahnbulleh refers. I suggest that those wanting to be a bit more informed regarding the state of the Liberian economy in 1979/1980, including issues relating to debt and expenditures on the OAU hosting, should read the article I contributed to the Liberian Studies Journal, Volume XIV, 1989, Number 2.