Po-Po-Wlee-Oh: Are There Any Peacebuilding Programs in Liberian?

The expression "Po-po-wlee-oh" is a desperate cry for solace and relief in the Grebo language. It is the type of expression that befits the recent gruesome murder of a youth and the injury sustained by another youth and their mother, Gloria Musu-Scott, former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Liberia. She served the Liberian nation in that capacity from 1997-2003. Counselor Scott was also elected as Junior Senator of Maryland County from where her family hails. Above all, Gloria is descendant of Chief Musu, a prominent Grebo Chief in the early 20th century.

I first met Gloria forty-eight years ago (1975) during our days at the University of Liberia. We were both members of Blamadon Theatre Workshop, an artistic organization founded and headed by James Roberts (aka Kona Khasu). Gloria and I acted on stage and since then, we bonded over the decades as brother and sister. Further, she has always been supportive of Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI) and my efforts to preserve the history and culture of Liberia through the performing and visual arts and Afrocentric literacy. Therefore, I am deeply hurt by her loss and the lack of law and order in Liberia.

I have serious concerns regarding international organizations funneling funds intended to promote peace and reconciliation through bogus non-governmental organizations that are founded and headed by rebel supporters who pocket the funds and leave the airwaves in Liberia saturated with hate speeches and threats of war and violence. In my opinion, such organizations and their so-called 'partners' are coconspirators to the clandestine scheme to perpetuate violence and lawlessness in Liberia. A recent investigation conducted showed that though there are some international NGOs have funds appropriated for peacebuilding activities in Liberia, these activities are practically nonexistent around the country!

In the first place, they set up protocols that make them inaccessible to major stakeholders who are professionally trained and knowledgeable to assist them in the successful implementation of peacebuilding. Instead, only they and their 'partners' are cognizant of what their ulterior motives are while major stakeholders who have genuine intent to promote peace and national consciousness are ostracized.

Therefore, funds appropriated by well-meaning foreign governments and humanitarian organizations abroad for development in Liberia must be closely monitored by the Liberian government and conscientious Liberians; and, if the funds are not being effectively used for their intended purposes, it should be reported to the donors to stop such organizations in Liberia from rubbing palm oil on the mouths of Liberians after they and local cohorts have misused said funds for their own selfish purposes.

For an example, six months ago, Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI) launched its Civic and Peace Education Audiovisual Series on local radio stations in Liberia as a gesture of initiating a grassroots effort to positively impact the peacebuilding process by actively engaging Liberian youths to serve as DATI Peace Advocates. We purchased airtime to start the process on the following radio stations in Liberia:

1. Radio Advent FM 93.7 in Monrovia (Saturday 10 AM and Wednesday 9 PM);

2. Radio Paraclete 93.7 FM in Gbarnga, Bong County (Wednesday 7:30-8:30 PM) and,

3. Radio Phoenix 102.7 FM in Harper, Maryland County (Friday 9 PM and Sunday 9 PM).

Unfortunately, we have discontinued the program in Monrovia due to lack of funding. Who knows. We might close the other programs around the country if lack of funding continues to be the issue for Dehkontee Artists Theatre, Inc. (DATI) bid to create cultural awareness and national consciousness in post-genocide Liberian society.

I am sure this is what the government of Liberia, and organizations like UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, etc., would like to see because of their bureaucratic nature of not being proactive but slowly responding to national emergencies! Nonetheless, it does not have to be this way. Those in government and individuals who head international non-governmental organizations must be more humanistic and proactive in their approach to handling the security situation in Liberia. The "po-po-wlee-oh" era in Liberia has lasted more than thirty-five years! How much longer must we go through decades of uncertainty and lack of security? Why keep ineffective organizations as 'partners' if they are not yielding fruitful results?

I should like to express our deepest condolences to Her Honor Gloria Musu-Scott and the people of Maryland County, who have also been very supportive of the Dehkontee Artists Theatre Kukatonon Peace Project in that county since 2019. Our hearts go out to you and your family as you go through this period of loss and grief. It is our hope that the government of Liberia will promote peace and reconciliation and nonviolence in Liberia and that it will be supportive of grassroots efforts initiated by patriotic Liberians instead of sabotaging our efforts to promote peace and national unity and rule of law in our beleaguered nation.

Rabbi Prince Joseph Tomoonh-Garlodeyh Gbaba, Sr., Ed. D.

February 26, 2023

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