‘I Have a Mission to Complete’

ACCRA – President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf provoked side-splitting laughter among university students in Ghana recently when she tried to explain the reasons behind her bid to run for the presidency for the second time.

Answering questions from a student at the University of Ghana, Legon in Accra, as to why she has decided to declare her intention to contest the 2011 general and presidential elections for a second term, the Liberian leader responded in these words: “I have a mission to complete for the people of Liberia.”

She explained that she wants to leave a legacy that will keep the door open for Liberian women and women in Africa at large.

The Liberian president made the statement on Friday, February 19, at the Great Hall of the University of Ghana where she delivered a public lecture.

Speaking on the topic “Reconstructing a Nation: The Experience of Liberia”, the Liberian leader outlined the achievements her administration had made for the Liberian people.

Sirleaf said her Unity Party-led administration has brought stability to the Government of Liberia, and had ended ‘jungle justice’ and impunity, bringing back the rule of law and restoring peace and stability to the country.

She added that her government has also restored the confidence and goodwill of the international community towards Liberia and foreign investors, and that donor agencies have been returning to the country, with many more still knocking at the door.

The Liberian Chief Executive talked about the Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS), a developmental program put in place by her administration, whose implementation started in 2008. She added that the PRS is a job creation initiative founded on four pillars -- consolidating peace and security, revitalizing the economy, strengthening governance and the rule of law and rehabilitating infrastructure along with the delivery of basic services.

She further indicated that the major gains of her administration have been shown to include the reduction of the country’s debt from US$5 billion, which her government inherited, to US$1.7 billion in 2009.

Addressing more than 30,000 students in the Great Hall of the University of Ghana at Legon, Sirleaf spoke about the increase in external reserves from US$5 million in 2006 to US$50 million in 2009. She mentioned the renovation of about 215 schools and some teacher training colleges, the establishment of an anti-corruption commission, an increase in the salary of workers through budgetary allotment and the achievement of a growth rate averaging 7.4% over the past four years.

At the end of her lecture, Sirleaf took questions from the students. On the issue of former president, Charles Taylor, who is currently in The Hague facing court trial, she clarified that Taylor has been charged for crimes committed in Sierra Leone and not Liberia.

Asked by one of the students as to what she would say to Charles Taylor if they were to meet, she responded in three words: “Hello Charles Taylor.”

In response to a question about her views on a potential United States of Africa, Sirleaf openly said she supports the idea of Africa uniting as one unit, but added that the implementation is difficult.

She dismissed rumors of ethnic discrimination in the country, but told the students that Liberia does have a land crisis. No government can survive if discrimination is practiced, she asserted.

At the end of the question-and-answer session, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. C.N.B. Tagoe, thanked the Liberian president for accepting the administration’s invitation to enrich the minds of the students and extended an open invitation for her return.