INAUGURAL SPEECH

Of

Leo Mulbah

President, Bong County Association of Georgia

 

 

 

v    My first lady and soul-mate, Mrs. Bessie Reeves Mulbah, mother of our two adorable princesses, Jessie and Lydia

 

v    Officials and members of the Bong County Association of Georgia

 

v    President J. Flomo Matthew, other executives and members of the United Bong County Association in the Americas (UBCAA)

 

v    Mr. Moses Vankpanah, Chairman of UBCAA board

 

v    My mother, Mrs. Zoe Mulbah 

 

v    Mr. Paul Muah, Chairman of LAMA board

 

v    Miss Garmai Kpadeh, Special Representative of President, Lao Sherman of LAMA

 

v    President Lafayette King and members of the Liberian old Timers sport Association of Georgia

 

v    My distinguish colleagues of the Council of Presidents of LAMA and UBCAA

 

v    Members of the Liberian Ministers Association of Georgia

 

v    Her Majesty Queen Mahja Zeon-Miss Liberia-Georgia &USA

 

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen

 

 

On this auspicious occasion—The joint Inauguration of the Bong County Association of Georgia and the executive Board of Directors of (UBCAA)—I am reminded of two great quotations from two great men living in two different epochs: On his inauguration as Vice President of the Republic of Liberia, Bishop Bennie D. Warner said, “What is wrong with us is Us”. However, a century before Bishop Warner, the great, Henry W. Longfellow said: “The lives of great men all remind us, we can make our lives sublime, and departing, leave behind us footprints on the sands of time”. It is important to note that while, Bishop Warner identified our problems, Henry Longfellow envisioned our prospects.

 

Therefore, drawing from these two great statements, I have chosen to speak to you today, on the topic: OUR PEOPLE, OUR PROBLEMS, And OUR PROSPECTS.

On a highly significant occasion like this, the ushering in of a new leadership, it is incumbent upon us to take a retrospective, introspective and prospective look at our situations as a people in order to make a proper diagnosis of our plights, our problems and our prospects.

Bong County, our beloved homeland, which is centrally located in the Republic of Liberia, is rich with natural and human resources. In the past it was an important bread basket for our nation. Our culture, history, beautiful landscapes, rivers and waterfalls present great attractions for tourism and other sustainable economic endeavors. But in spite of all these, Bong County, like many other parts of Liberia remains grossly under-developed. It is plagued by malaises of the Liberian super structure.

Accordingly, as a subset in the Liberian set, no systemic and sustainable effort can occur in Bong, without a systematic overhauling of the Liberian society. Thus, Our People, Our Problems, Our Prospects….

 

OUR PEOPLE

As we all know, Bong County is comprised predominantly of the Kpelle ethnic group. There are other minority groups, like the Mandingoes, Dahn and Mano ethnic groups. Prior to the Civil War these ethnic groups coexisted peacefully. They inter married, farmed together and peaceably traded goods and services. Their children went to the same schools, churches and mosques together. Many of the other ethnic groups experienced the same good will and camaraderie. However, it is important to note that, this goodwill did not always exist. Prior to the founding of what is now known as the Republic of Liberia, there were many inter-tribal wars. Some of these wars led to the captivity of rival tribal groups. These captives became the slaves of their captors; and some of these captives were sold to Europeans and American merchants. As a testimony to this fact, DNA evidence has now linked the great Oprah Winfrey, a descendant of former slaves, to the Kpelle ethnic group, which today can be found in Liberia and Guinea.  Naturally, as people of Bong County, we are convinced that Oprah’s descendants are presently living among us, and certainly not among the Guinea Kpelleh.  

“YOR YOR, YOR!!!!!! KU-KELE-KU-KA TOR-NON!!!

 

 

My fellow countrymen, Bong County, we have really made it big!

As we discuss “Our People” in the context of this discourse, it is important to recall a dark chapter in our history - The Senseless Liberian Civil War, which was a manifestation of the prolonged hatred our people have harbored for nearly one and a half century. This poisonous venom which permeated the Liberian society left deep ethnic, socio-political, cultural and religious cleavages that we the people of Bong County, yea Liberia, are still struggling to resolve.

 

OUR PROBLEMS

As we travel on this “intellectual ship” entitled “Our People, Our Problems, Our Prospects”, it behooves us to examine another critical phase of this journey - “Our Problems”.

Consequently, it is important to establish this premise.

The “Liberian set “is culturally, educationally, politically and socially bankrupt; hence Bong County as a “subset” is no exception.

 

Time after time, leaders after leaders, promises upon promises, Bong County and the people of Liberia continue to be victimized by corrupt, inept, unpatriotic, callous and hardened criminals masquerading as champions and liberators of our people. Despite the enormous wealth of Bong County and Liberia, our schools, roads, hospitals and living standards are among the most substandard. Firestone, Bong Mining Company, LMC, LAMCO and the other economic pirates hijacked the nation and specifically the people of Bong County as they fled with hundreds of millions and left us dirt poor.

 

What is so disturbing about these hard facts is that our country and County have been in existence far longer that all but one of the 53 nations in Africa (i.e., Ethiopia), and it is still among the least developed nations in Africa and the world.   

What is even more vexing about our problems is the lack of appreciation for our Culture and heritage. We preferred everything Western - food, clothes, language, wine, and women. When blessed with some level of success, we look down on our people and give preferences to other nationalities.

 

Amidst our ‘big show’ , Bong County’s teachers and students are desperately poor and deprive of quality education; teachers are poorly trained and lacked motivation; there are no libraries and laboratories; and exchanging sex and money for grades have become the sine qua non for graduation from high schools and colleges. Our political system is rampantly corrupt and inefficient. The Liberian government is used as the personal plantation of government officials, from which they siphon our hard earned tax into foreign banks.

 

To add insult to injury, many of our colleagues returning home from the United States including some Bong County citizens under the guise of nation building, have become woefully disappointing; hence, have lost the respect and admiration of their fellow countrymen and women. These U.S. bred and educated citizens of Bong County who are suppose to have the answers to the county’s progress have become cancerous to the progress of the county and country.

 

Another problem posed by political authorities in Liberia, is their lack of love and patriotism for the country. They seek power at all cost and are ready and willing to destroy the country and wipe out an entire populace in their quest for power. This brand of leadership has demonstrated their callous disregard for humanity by the genocide they have committed. Liberian politicians do not know how to bow out in grace and dignity and have others with fresh ideas help to sole the problems.  They want to come to power so they “Can enjoy too,” as the saying goes.

 

In as much as the Liberian leadership has been generally bad, I am gravely saddened by the fact that ordinary Liberians are also accessories, and therefore culpable. We are responsible for the ways our leaders behave in government. We the citizens of Bong, and Liberia in general, were active participants to many of the crimes and abuses carried out by these “liberators”. We have consistently failed miserably to do our due diligence by vetting those who seek to lead us. This level of complacency as been view as a green light to loot the county and nation with impunity by the dubious characters we elect.

　

　

　

OUR PROSPECTS

Amidst our people and our problems, there lies an oasis of hope.  Let us examine the will power of our people, the youthfulness of our populace, the natural resources we have, the pool of Bong County professionals in the country and in the Diaspora; as well as the Goodwill that exist within the international community for Liberia.

 

The people of Bong County are a proud and resilient people. This tenacity was demonstrated during the civil war. We ate “Borbor John“, and palm cabbage when we could barely find a spoonful of rice. Despite the hardships imposed by the war, Liberian refugees were never found begging on street corners of the various countries they found themselves in.  With this kind of resilience, it is not presumptuous to say that our people only need a selfless and dedicated leadership that can lead them to the desired progress.

This, our administration is committed to providing.

Additionally, the vibrancy of the youth of Bong County is a prospect worth exploring. Statistics reveal that the population of Bong County is predominantly youthful. This assures us of the continuity of our county. In order to have a progressive existence as a people, proper attention must be paid to the youth. Educational, socio-psychological, emotional objectives must be tailored to suit their developmental needs.

 

Lest we forget, the Liberian youth in general, have demonstrated over the years that they can be a beacon of hope to humanity when given the opportunity. The likes of youthful State Farm Insurance Agent Nelson Karpeh , the Liberian global child rights advocator Kimmie Weeks, Maima Hoff, our rigid iron football star Rennie Curran of the Tennessee Titans, Korto Momolu, and Ms. Liberia-Georgia & USA Mahja Zeon are concrete manifestations of the vibrancy of the Liberian youth; and a positive message to those youth in despair that “they too, can make their lives sublime” and leave “foot prints on the sands of time.”

 

Under this administration, priority will be given to the development of the youth of Bong County in Liberia and the Diaspora.

 

While it is true, that the youth are vibrant and full of promises for the future, indulge me to charge the “Intellectual Class“of Bong County to serve as the pathfinders, trailblazers and architects of a genuine transformation and development of our county.

 

They should be ready, willing and able builders that will usher Bong County into 21st century world class development. We have no excuse, sons and daughters of Bong County have earned graduate and post graduate degrees from many of the best universities and schools around the world. Some of us work for top notch international bodies. Therefore, the future of Bong County ought to be a done deal. Our posterity should be assured that this pool of Bong County “book people” will deliver and rescue our people from shame and shambles.

 

 Unfortunately, the recent poor performances by some of our compatriots with ‘bags of degrees,’ have been embarrassing and disgraceful. Many in the Diaspora, who were called upon to serve, went to our native land with the malicious intention of continuing the plundering that has left Liberia so impoverished.  Their callous disregard for the wellbeing of the Liberian people has made our people to develop a collective mistrust of citizens of Bong County living in the United States.

 

This has to change and under our administration, we will partner with LAMA, UBCAA and other civic organizations within the State of Georgia and beyond to encourage accountability, transparency, honesty, integrity, dignity, civic duty and good governance. I will honor your trust by always doing what I think is right for this organization.  Similarly, I am of the conviction that to whom much is given, much is expected; therefore, this administration will always welcome exchange of ideas without fear of reprisals from any member of our team. Let me be unambiguously clear that under our watch, any officer accuse of operating outside of inclusiveness, accountability, respect for all members irrespective of views, transparency, unity or any tenants thereof, will be reported to our Board of Directors for investigations and possible corrective measures leading up to but not limited to impeachment if warranted.

 

For far too long, we as a people have been injected with this tranquilizing drug of discontent for one another, inability to agree to disagree, and to resolve our differences without bedeviling the next. This too will be heavily vetted under our charged. To forge a new day, we as citizens of Bong County can not and must not be our own problems. My fellow citizens, it is my battle cry that we work as a united front to chart a new course for ourselves and our children.

 

Henceforth, we intend to unveil a vision that embodied the concept of collective economics and community activism. We need to help those amongst us not fortunate with Green Cards learn how to properly fill immigration forms. By so doing, we can drastically reduce capital flight to American law firms. The premise is any penny saved is potential penny that could be of aid to Bong County.

 

Our administration will collaborate and work closely with UBCAA to implement development plans in our county and among our people in the Diaspora.

We are convinced; there are many well-meaning citizens of Bong County who are willing to selflessly render their services to the growth and development of this organization and our beloved county, hence this Administration will widely embrace these patriots; and seek to organize collaborative ventures.

 

Our county is among the wealthiest counties in our nation, yet our people continue to be counted as some of the poorest. Our natural resources continue to be used to benefit an elite few. This cannot

Continue. We as Citizens of Bong County Must unite our voices in a massive chorus and say:

 

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

“TEEN AGE PREGNACY”

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

“GOSSIPS, LIES, HATRED AND DECEPTION!

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

“INTERNAL FIGHTING IN THIS ASSOCIATION

NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

“CHILDREN ON THE SIDEWALKS SELLING PLASTIC BAGS OF WATER”

“NO NOT THIS TIME AROUND”

“RAMPANT CORRUPTION AND ABUSE OF POWER”

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND”

“RULE WITH IMPUNITY AND NO ACCOUNTABILITY”

“MAL NURISHED CHILDREN!

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

“NO, NOT THIS TIME AROUND!

　

RECOMMENDATIONS

 

I want to send a strong message that this administration will party less and work more. In so doing, most of our activities will be focused around the development of the youth of Bong County. By so doing, we will not only be talking the talk, but walking the walk.

With your approval, our Administration shall seek to implement the following projects:

 

Establish a scholarship fund for University students from Bong County in Liberia.

 

Providing computers for elementary and secondary schools in the county

 

Sponsor a High School sports tournament in honor of an outstanding citizen of Bong County for his/her invaluable services to the people of our beloved County.

 

In an attempt to identify, record and pursue all citizens of Bong County residing in the state of Georgia, we shall establish a website and database in an effort to expand our membership and respond to some of the needs of membership (bereavement, birthdays, weddings, graduations and health issues.

　

CONCLUSION

Distinguished, ladies and gentlemen, Fellow citizens of Bong County, Liberians, friends and well-wishers of Liberia, kindly allow me to challenge each of us to resolve and vow not to participate in the exploitation of our people; to resolve and vow not to cause our people pain; to resolve and vow to work harder to “build a great association and community and yea a great Liberian nation”. For to this in the words the Late President William R. Tolbert Jr. is to rid our nation of ignorance, disease and poverty and to raise our people from “mats to mattresses”.

 

 When we resolve to render extraordinary services to our people in the context of our respective professional pursuits, posterity will gaze with awesome astonishments at the indelible footprints we would have left behind. They will talk of how we overcame prejudice, hatred, greed, selfishness, poverty and injustice to transform their lives - the unborn generation. How we did not allow our circumstances to shape our destiny, rather we took charge and help to change our future.

　

Before I retire to my seat, indulge me to acknowledge some very influential people in my life. I will be remiss if I didn’t. first, let me say a very big thank you to my lovely wife, friend , soul mate and mother of our children, our fist lady Mrs. Bessie Reeves Mulbah and our two little princesses (Jessie and Lydia Mulbah) for putting up with my talking and doing countless things at odd hours. To my mom and dad (Dr. and Mrs. Charles K. Mulbah), thank you for your untiring love and support over the years that have molded me into the man I have become.

　

Finally, I will forever be grateful to Mr. Saye Kulah, Mr. Dennis Kotee, Mr. Joseph Youlo, Mr. Mustapha C. Acolatse, Dr. William Allen, Rev. William Harris, Pastor Kennedy, Mr. Domah Johnson, Mr. Hassan Kiawu, Mr. Melton Larmouth and our one and only dynamic VP Miss Paulette findley for their invaluable counsels, love, care and dedication to making sure I stay focus and do the right things. I love you all and appreciate those whose names I did not call.

Long live Bong County Association in the Americas!

Long live Bong county Association of Georgia!

Long live the People of Bong County! God Bless America and Liberia!

I THANK YOU!

 

MGBA, KU KLA-LI-KU KA TONON--AAA?