Written by Sam JacksonThe previous administrations, Ellen and Weah especially in our postwar democratic dispensation have been woefully inept and complicit in keeping Liberians poor and maintaining the foreign domination of the Liberian economy.
Liberians deserve better. We need to take charge of our own destiny by insisting that we too enjoy the benefits of our rich land. I wrote a book, Rich Land Poor Country, that tells the story of why we are a poor nation in a rich land. Minerals galore. 350 miles of Ocean. Proximity to markets in Europe and North America. A young population. Beautiful people.
During my TRC testimony in 2004, I was asked by Commissioner Gerald Coleman why are we a poor nation? I blurted out stupidity as the leading cause of our entrenched poverty. The inability of our minds to connect prosperity to good governance, domestic resource mobilization and economic empowerment through an aggressive policy driven approach. The government should make its primary objective the economic empowerment of its citizens. Giving privileges and promoting affirmation actions exclusively for our citizens.
In 2010, the Ellen Administration was being pressured by the gnomes of the international system to remove all restrictions on foreign direct investments. The World Bank through the IFC, the U.S. Embassy through its ambassador Linda Thomas Greenfield and the EU wrote a concept note calling for the removal of restrictions that reserved certain businesses for Liberians. They wrote 3 pages detailing the benefits of removing restrictions on FDI. I volunteered as a consultant to the Liberia Business Association (LIBA) and wrote 20 pages countering their nonsensical and illogical proposal.
I proved that over 120 countries maintain some form of control on foreigners doing certain businesses. The U.S. restricts newspaper and tv companies to U.S. citizens. Canada restricts ownership of mineral rights to its citizens. Foreigners cannot be taxi drivers in Mexico. Botswana requires direct ownership of its citizens in all mineral exploits.
Ghana restricts and makes it near impossible for foreigners to enter the wholesale and retail markets. You must invest 300,000 USD and employ ten Ghanaians to do wholesale and retail in Ghana. That’s on the first page of the Ghanaian Investment Act.
I didn’t come home to Liberia in December of 1978 as a 25 year old bank trade finance specialist to overthrow a government and sow seed of political discord. I came home to participate in local economic empowerment. I was hired as Deputy comptroller at the Ministry of Finance. My thoughts were to develop a procurement and government payment system to benefit Liberians. I also wanted to empower Liberian traders to import from sources abroad but both objectives were obstructed by a financial and trading architecture that excluded Liberians. That system continues today. It excludes the vast majority of Liberians, primarily the market women from moving up the trade and commerce ladder. It maintains foreigners and new citizens as the primary beneficiaries of the 2.5 billion dollar trading economy. Onions and tomatoes. All manner of food and beverages. New automobiles. All controlled by foreigners.
Our 2000 Mining Code requires up to 15 percent equity participation by Liberians in all Class A mining licenses. I was on the team that wrote it. Dr. Fodee Kromah was the Chief Consultant. I was also involved in the writing of the NOCAL Act of 2000. The Act requires that Liberians own 20 percent equity in all oil blocks. The Petroleum Act of 2002 requires all contracts 3 million or lower in the industry, such as catering, and service deliveries be restricted to Liberians. Unfortunately, none of the previous governments in our postwar democratic dispensation has sought to respect the laws to promote Liberian economic empowerment.
There can be no long-term political stability in Liberia without massive reduction in poverty rates through aggressive economic empowerment of Liberians. Failure to do so will result in a perpetually poor country in an abundantly rich land.
That’s why my energies will be directed to Liberian economic empowerment now and in the last days of my life. The fight is on! During the Ellen Administration my life was threatened by some people in the mining industry because I fought against the illegal grants of mining concessions to unqualified foreign companies. My daughters were threatened for murder when I exposed illegal logging in the now famous PUP scandal. I reported these to the relevant authorities.
The courage and fearlessness I had in my 20’s are not extinguished. I will be fighting for my people. For prosperity and stability. And so it goes.
However, Former Auditor General of Liberia, John Morlu II expressed slight contrary view to Mr.Jacskon assertion.
Morlu: While I agree with Sam’s Liberianization, restricting certain businesses to Liberians and making it mandatory for Liberian participation in deals is disastrous and anti-competition. Corruption and giveaways to unsuitable and incompetent “business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs have been the problem. Example, Medina Wesseh and the Legislators got a lot of ownerships through Liberian participation. Also Wento, Rich Tolbert, Eugene Shannon, etc and some of those at the lands and miles ministry are beneficial owners because of Liberianization.”
Morlu further: We should have 100% free market. We should instead support Liberian businesses through SBA and other entrepreneurial programs such as limiting govt loans and govt guaranteed loans only to Liberian owned businesses.
Morlu stressed : “We created an SBA and stuck it under commerce. What has it achieved? Corruption and cronyism are the problem. Let think a bit deeper about this new Liberia. Lets use past experience to give us a new perspective on sustainable solutions.”
Ghana, according to Morlu,has changed to 100% foreign since 2019;the old law was only enriching the politically connected, Morlu said.
Morlu: “Even in retail it has failed only benefitting political families. Melcom is 10ü% Indian owned. In petty trading in Ghana, Nigerian said “they are not foreigners”[I am not disagreeing but until we can put in strong controls, it will only benefit the legislators and those close to power.”
