By: Semantics King,Jr.,Minneapolis

An executive mansion news release late Saturday names former Liberian war lord and recycled Liberian politicians in President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf’s new administration,pending confirmation from the Liberian Senate.

Those appointed by President Sirleaf include former Liberian war lord,Alhaji G. V. Kromah as Ambassador-at-Large at Liberia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.Prior to this appointment,Mr.Kromah had served as acting Director General at the nation’s state broadcaster,the Liberian Broadcasting System(LBS)-a position he held prior to the inception of the Liberian civil war in 1989.

Also appointed by President Sirleaf is former Liberia’s Finance Minister,Milton Nathaniel Barnes who served under former Liberian President Charles Taylor from 1999 to 2002,according to the United Nations(UN).Mr. Barnes,if confirmed,will serve as President Sirleaf’s Chairman for the Board of Directors at Liberia’s National Port Authority(NPA).Mr. Barnes also served as President Sirleaf’s and Liberia’s Ambassador and Permanent representative to the UN in 2006 during President Sirleaf’s first term.President Sirleaf late in 2008 appointed Mr. Barnes again as Liberia’s Ambassador to the United States,but two years later,he was recalled to Liberia.Another interesting narrative about Mr. Barnes is that he ran for president against then candidate Sirleaf and woefully lost.
As it’s the case with many politicians, they are much more concerned with their re-election or re-appointment than it’s representing their constituents.And so is it with Mr. Barnes.

Another interesting appointment by President Sirleaf is Freddie Taylor,who served as Director of former President Taylor’s National Security Agency(NSA).He will now be Sirleaf’s Deputy Minister for Administration & Public Safety at the Ministry of Justice in Monrovia.

The re-appointment and even re-election of former government officials in new administrations is not the bone of contention.It’s the continuous recycling of former government officials who performed below expectations,or who never even had the capacity and ability to impact the masses they were appointed to serve or represent is at the core of the Liberian political debate.

Liberian politicians never easily quit Liberian politics because of what they might get in return.The Liberian government is the single highest employer in the country riddled with accusations and counter-accusations of corruption.The networking and inner-cycled lobbying that ensue once a new leadership takes over Liberia’s Executive Mansion in Monrovia is as competitive as it is corrupting.If you doubt my submission,watch the Liberian political landscape when current President Sirleaf leaves office for the next President.