Calls have been pouring in that I bring a law suit against the Liberian Government for the irresponsible manner in which, the Deputy Minister of Planning for Policy, Sebastian Muah, discussed my employment privacy on Facebook. Firstly, let me make it crystal clear, I will not glorify the misfit naivety of a post 1990 high school graduate. People like Sebastian crave for the spotlight, and are keen to exploit the slightest opportunity just to gain attention. His yearns for excessive attention is a deficiency and a part of what the Rev. Martin Luther King calls, the Drum Major Instinct. Today it comes in different shapes and sizes. There is the ADHD, the ADD, and so on. He can take the attention deficit test if he wants (Adult ADHD/ADD Quiz). Besides, an attempt to make this young man, the object of a discussion, puts Liberia and other national debates like corruption, the PRS, secondary.
Why would a Sebastian Muah want to risk his cabinet position, simply, to put me down? He had to present me improbable and as one who lacks the moral uprightness to criticize the Ellen administration. But the answer is obvious. There is not a lot that this Ellen Policy Chief can account for besides few PC languages. Every national establishment comes with a baggage of rotten apples that includes the likes of a Sebastian Muah. What is the big deal? Our generation can hardly remember the bad smell of the Harrison Penue, Jack the Rebel, Chucky Taylor, and some other funky power crazed duds.
Monitoring and evaluation (M&E) is one of the main reasons why County Development Officers were hired in the first place. The ministry of planning which includes Sebastian’s office is part of the government functionaries that CDOs are required to watch and report to the SES and PIC about. This is done to encourage transparency in the spending of donor’s monies. How could one ministry which is in the middle of those establishments that are to be monitored given the function of supervising those who are to watch its activities? There is no need to look under Muah’s ministerial duties for the answer, you won’t see it there (http://mopea.gov.lr/content.php?sub=81&related=1&res=81&third=81).
Under the SES Performance Contract, an effort to suppress the authority of the Civil Service Agency is discouraged. For instance, not only did Muah and company wanted to have CDOs signed an old fashion employee daily work attendance journal, they fruitlessly went at great lengths to ensure that CDO conform to the HR procedures of the Ministry of Planning. This was also another laughable event for the SES. Interestingly, those same low tricks were pulled on the GAC strongman, John Morlue when he first started his noble duty of exposing the prevalence of corruption in the Ellen Sirleaf’s administration. Especially after stating that the government of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf was three times corrupt than any government that ever existed in Liberia. I was mad at him, but we are seeing that now. Some idiots in the government wanted some of Morlue’s authority stripped off, or reduced to a point where they will tell him how to do his job.
Muah is right. I failed miserably to perform under the corrupt standards seemingly set by the Sirleaf administration. In fact, under performance is shy of an ugly way to grade my intransigent performance under the conditions classified by Sebastian.
He made it clear that he has no room for mediocrity. He wanted me to embellish the truth, report lies, and then he and I would have been cool. He would have included me in the excellent category under which he placed Mr. Patrick Sawyer. Liberia is yet a strange place. People will come after you for being too honest. The SES was not comfortable with my civic responsibility of candor. Interestingly, truthfulness is still a strange practice in Liberia. Ordained Pastor like Larry Bropleh stole just to be seen as a very smart Man of God. People rob you at the gas station if you dare look the other away. You are a prey if you appear like a stranger from Europe or the United States. You are very great if you join the corrupt bunch to loot Liberia. Your performance is poor when you are straight. The SES has my letter expressing my inability to renew my contract based on the following: poor salary incentive, nothing seems to be working, the effort of serving GOL does not match the sacrifice made to leave my family in isolation, etc. The fact is, whether I was fired by Muah or the SES, I am no longer at the job. I will be publishing my yearlong memoir of events in Cape Mount in the not too distant future.
My differences with Muah started well before the CDOs left Monrovia for their various counties of assignment. He saw me as a big influence on those who showed willingness to be pushed around. I wanted key commitments under Annex C of the Performance Contract to be executed before taking up my assignment in Cape Mount. Muah was determined not to have this done. As a Liberian citizen, I expressed my personal opinion in this publication (Transforming Our National Security Institutions (Guest Commentary), Muah saw it as a perfect opportunity to get me out of the SES. He called on Dr. William Allen, head of the CSA, Alfred Sayon, my former supervisor (SES Coordinator) and even the UNDP, but was turned down. It got worst, after I published my second commentary both on our local Liberian daily newspapers and with online Journals (Transforming our National Security Institutions: In the Case of the Liberian National Police (Guest Commentary).
I remembered the hysterical looks on his face after I cautioned the Liberian Legislature to use due-diligence in confirming executive appointees. I wanted this bribe-riddled body to put aside personal interests, and thoroughly shake down those who are to be confirmed or rejected. In Liberia, CDOs work for the government, but are paid a monthly salary of $2,000 from an account managed by the World Bank. The World Bank is one of key stakeholders in Liberia’s PRS initiative. All of my profiles stated in clear terms that I work for the Civil Service Agency of Liberia. Sebastian claimed I stated somewhere that I work for the World Bank. Given that the World Bank paid my salary, I could have mentioned somewhere that I work for them. What is the big deal, an honest mistake? In one of his many profiles, Sebastian claimed to have worked for Compaq Computer Corporation when he did not? This guy worked for a company that was subcontracted by Compaq Computer Corporation. I really don’t know when this young man entered the United States upon his graduation from high school in 1991, but the number of jobs on his resume is awfully fishy. That’s none of my business.
I wanted to ensure that those who have taken upon themselves to be the ethics policemen against others are themselves, very clean. During his days with Madam Sirleaf, Larry Bropleh used to refer to me as an information scavenger. With this in mind, I went on a scavenging trip to authenticate the credential of this frisky kid. I came up something that our Honorable Legislature could not find on the imposter. In his profile at the Ministry of Planning, here is what he claims to have (http://mopea.gov.lr/content.php?sub=81&related=1&res=81&third=81). Look at what he posted elsewhere (http://www.angelfire.com/mn/TruePhenomena/).
On his profile with the Ministry of Planning, Sebastian claims to have an AA in General Studies (Truett- McConnell). He didn’t think it was that important to include same on his profile with Angel Fire. That’s fine we all do that sometimes. But on his Ministry of Planning profile, this high school valedictorian went on to claim that he holds a BS in Computer Science& Mathematics from Mercer University in the state of Georgia. However, on Angel Fire he said he holds a BA, in Computer Science/Mathematics, from Mercer University, GA. Now that is something. Sebastian told the world in his profile at the Planning Ministry, that he holds Masters in International Economics at (Mercer University). He wanted his profile to match his post as Chief for Economic Policy and Planning. In a communication he forwarded to me via the internet, Muah claims to have an MBA from [Mercer University, Self design program, Entrepreneurship & International Economics] ‘. So I checked in with Mercer University to match apple for apple with all the bogus claims made by this pathological liar. There are reasons why he won’t apply through the front door. He was brought in by an MC classmate. That’s fine. I am quite sure that folks like Muah will not pass the SES credential scrutiny test.
At Mercer University, none of the Masters programs offered has anything to do with an MBA in Entrepreneurship & International Economics. Please take a look (http://mercer.edu/academics/degrees/master.shtm). Sebastian claims he was enrolled in a Post Undergraduate (MBA courses), with Albany State University, GA. In the same vein, that MBA, accordingly, he went on to finish with Mercer University. Mercer University does not officer a BS in Computer Science & Mathematics. These days, our imposter has surfaced at the Carnegie Mellon’s Heinz School of Public Policy in Pittsburg, Penn where he is set to earn an MSIT in 2011 at the end of a sabbatical. In his Facebook profile he listed Carnegie as a networking avenue, but failed to list his professed Alma Matter, Mercer University. This man said he was given the chance to self-design his own Masters program. I hope this school has the resources to hire someone to supervise such student Muah even if he is on an independent study? At Carnegie, the following courses are offered in MSIT (MSIT-MOB, MSIT-IS, MSIT-SM, MSIN, and MSISTM). According to him, he is on an MSIT [Carnegie Mellon, ICT for Development & Policy, expected 2011, on sabbatical while I serve honorably in this Government]. This self professed student on vacation will have to tell us which Carnegie offers the brand of MSIT he is claiming.
At Carnegie, these are the objectives of MSIT: MOB – prepares students to be at the forefront of the converged mobile/Internet regime with a multidisciplinary curriculum spanning both technical and business topics in mobile applications, services and devices. MSIT-Information Security (IS) - Prepares students to become leaders in information security by blending education in information security technology with other topics essential for the effective development and management of secure information systems. MSIT-Software Management (SM) - Prepares software engineers and project managers for leadership roles in software product management. In addition to these programs, there is an MSIN (The Master of Science in Information Networking (MSIN) gives students a solid foundation in information networking and introduces students to management, strategic thinking, and policy, with the opportunity to study each of these areas in greater depth through electives. The MSIN offered in Japan and the next enrollment is on 2011 (http://www.ini.cmu.edu/degrees/).
This kid is great, in less than a decade of residing in the US, here are places he claims to have worked while schooling and running a home (UNAIDS [Country Response Information Systems Manager/M&E], SocketWorks [Country Manager], Sapient [Senior Technologist], Georgia Pacific [Sr. Administrative System Consultant], IBM [Business Intelligence Contractor], Accenture [Telecommunication Contractor], Atlanta Casualty & American Financial Group [System Architect/Manager Application Development], Software Architects [Manager], Deloitte & Touche/DRT Systems [Sr. Manufacturing Consultant], System Analyst [Miller Brewing Company]. Oh and before I forget, My Undergraduate Degrees are AA [Truett-McConnell College,General Studies/Pre-engineering], BA [Mercer University, Computer Science/Mathematics], MBA [Mercer University, Self design program, Entreprenuership & International Economics], MSIT [Carnegie Mellon, ICT for Development & Policy, expected 2011, on sabbatical while I serve honorably in this Government]).
Sebastian went on to state that the MOPEA wanted to give me a chance to develop my father’s ethic homeland of Grand Cape. And if a man cannot develop his own homeland, where else can he develop, he asked? My answer is nowhere. But this is exactly my point, under his watch, nowhere in Liberia was developed. This boy will never stop dancing to his own mediocrity tunes. Is Muah suggesting to us that being my overall boss, as he claimed; his homeland Grand Kru County is well developed? If yes how; and if no why? Firstly, Kids like Sebastian are the sort of people that walk up to their parents and demand for a toy when daddy and mummy are thinking of how the rent or mortgage is paid tomorrow. He has no knowledge of how the PRS is run. No CDO was selected on the basis of their county. For instance, I was born and raised in Montserrado, and by coincidence, I was sent to Cape Mount by the SES, and not because my father or me came from there. Patrick Sawyer on the other hand is from Grand Kru, but was sent to Grand Bassa. The gentleman who was given Montserrado County, Steve Guzeh, is a Lorma man with a clear Buzay accent.
For all, the PRS was structured in a manner such that what affect one county, affects the other 14 counties. What affects Cape Mount negatively or positively, affects others similarly. The failure of one is the failure of all. Muah has honestly made it clear, Cape Mount failed even though the Sam Jackson Commission rated it first among counties with the most projects completed. What Muah won’t say is that other counties are even poorer. Firstly, taking personal responsibilities for one’s failure is the beginning of success. This IT guy should take responsibility of their mishandling of the PRS. Liberia should watch out for fake intellectuals and want to be policy advisers like the Sebastian Muahs who show up at the eve of a serious brainstorming process, and offer to know it all. This outright deception by pseudo intellectuals and coupled with wide spread corruption, have created a serious blemish on educated Liberians. Their actions have turned voters away from true Liberian intellectual elite class. Our voters no longer find pleasure in putting the-know-it-all in the Mansion. At the barber shop, saloon, shoe repairing shops, and others, the air is filled with hate for book people. One of the most popular slogans in Liberia today is, ‘give us an honest leader who has Liberia at heart, than a bookish leader who loots Liberia with excuse’. The people are fed up with so called educated Liberians who lack the moral make up. To be frank, the largest voting class Liberians has set the bar at honesty and integrity, and not on Harvard Grads. 2011 will tell.
Edmond R. Gray resides in Minneapolis, Minnesota and can be reached on 763-447-1063 and at remiegray@gmail.com.
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