The Concern Citizens of Grand Gedeh County – a conglomeration of Grand Gedians in Liberia and the Diaspora have petitioned various international missions in Liberia including; the United States Embassy, European Union, and Mano River Union calling on President Joseph Nyumah Boakai to withdraw the appointment of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant as Superintendent of the County.
The Concerned Citizens of Grand Gedians said they are compelled to bring the matter to the attention of foreign missions in Liberia that have heavily vested in promoting the country’s peace and furthering its development, be alerted to a potentially explosive situation that could have regional implications.
According to them, the call demonstrates an unqualified commitment to maintaining public peace amid a potentially explosive and destabilizing situation in Grand Gedeh County arising from the appointment of Mr. Grant as head of the local government in the County.
Previously served as Representative of District-1, Alex Grant was appointed by President Joseph Nyumah on April 24, 2024, following confirmation by the Liberian Senate with over twenty (20) senators voting ‘’yes’’ in favor of Grant’s confirmation.
The National Chairman of the Concerned Grand Gedeh Citizens in Liberia, Weafus Kamawon Quitoe maintained that Mr. Grant’s recent defeat in the just-ended 2023 election, in which he contested as a senatorial candidate, is an explicit rejection of his leadership by the citizens of the County. He added that Mr. Grant’s appointment gravely disturbed the peace of the County with the potential of being embroiled in prolonged protests and civil disobedience.
Quitoe stated that Superintendent Grant has brought the County to disrepute when it was discovered that he forged his academic credentials for which he was expelled from the University of Liberia and the Cuttington University College as reported in the FrontPageAfrica May 13, 2021 edition (Liberia: Nigeria’s Ibandan University Denies Rep. Alex Grant’s Claim that He Obtained Undergraduate Degree from There – FrontPageAfrica (frontpageafricaonline.com).
The petition statement added that “in February 2018, Mr. Grant was accused of attempted murder by his Chief of Office Staff, Aaron Togba, a young Grand Gedian, who alleged that his boss wanted him dead because he had sensitive information about him that he was afraid he would make public. The young man was brutalized by individuals he alleged were hired by Mr. Grant.
“When Grand Gedeh County’s Election Magistrate, Alfred Dunner, went missing in May 2022, Superintendent Grant was one of three persons accused of being complicit in his disappearance while the case remains unsolved. His contribution to addressing the mysterious disappearance was to say that Mr. Dunner was taken by a spirit”.
These instances, according to Weafus Quitoe prevented the successful holding of the County’s annual development meetings during the leadership of Mr. Grant as head of the County Legislative Caucus, and few sittings that were held either ended haphazardly or in confusion.
He acknowledged that much of the discontent against Mr. Grant, particularly which relates to violence, is fueled by allegations; Mr. Grant has never been convicted in any court of law. He argued that good and effective leadership has very little to do with legality and all to do with moral authority and goodwill.
“Mr. Grant was appointed despite the overwhelming and easily verifiable information provided to the appointing authority documenting pervasive allegations in the County of his complicity in several dubious activities, his lack of moral authority and integrity, and his polarizing history. He even confirmed his lack of integrity when, during his confirmation hearing, he denied, under oath, being expelled from the University of Liberia because of his fraudulent academic record. This information was common knowledge to many of the Senators who confirmed him.’’ – The petition added
It can be recalled on March 12, 2024, the Grand Gedeh County Elders Council in Monrovia, representing Elders from the different sections of the county residing in Monrovia, held a press conference and pleaded with the appointing authority to withdraw Mr. Grant’s nomination. Also, on April 5, 2024, the Grand Gedeh County Traditional Elders Council pleaded again with the appointing authority to withdraw Mr. Grant’s nomination.
Additionally, on April 22, 2024, The Concern Citizens of Grand Gedeh issued a Press Statement, calling on the government to uphold the tenants of democracy while, at the same time, drawing the attention of the public to what it described as “the existence now of a powder keg in Grand Gedeh County waiting to possibly explode”.
Despite the many concerns from these different groups, the Liberian senate unanimously voted for the confirmation of Mr. Grant which has sparked debate among citizens in the county calling on President. Boakai to withdraw the appointment.
Quitoe further stated that “we cannot decipher a rational explanation for Mr. Grant’s appointment as Superintendent of the County given the overwhelming information provided to the appointing authority and the Liberian Senate, and the passionate pleas of the people of the County and their Elders against his appointment because of his track record which portents strong potential for violence”.
The concerned citizens of Grand Gedeh are therefore requesting the interventions of the international missions in Liberia in ensuring that President Boakai withdraws the appointment of Mr. Alex Chersia Grant as Superintendent of the County.
