‘Speak Out Against Societal Ills’

Joe Mason, President of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA), says the social, political and economic transformation of Liberia will require leaders with upright character and moral integrity who are willing to lead by example.

Mr. Mason emphasized that while vision, communication, and problem-solving skills are important for leaders to succeed, they will ultimately become useless if leaders sacrifice their integrity for personal gains to the detriment of the people they lead.

A release from the Association issued on Monday, July 12, 2021, quotes the ALJA President as saying that deceit, sycophancy, and hypocrisy are common attributes of past and current leaders which explain why Liberia now enjoys the unenviable distinction as one of the poorest countries in the world.

The ALJA President made the remarks on Saturday, July 10, 2021, in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the United States of America, when he served as keynote speaker at the 7th annual convention of the A.M.E. Zion University Alumni Association in the Americas. 

Mr. Mason lamented the current state of affairs in the country with a struggling economy, a health system in crisis, an educational system in shambles, a significant unemployment rate, failing infrastructure, an unfair and unequal dispensation of Justice and the rule of law, among others.

He said while the current administration bears some responsibility for this state of affairs, Liberia’s downward trajectory began before President George Weah and will continue well into future administrations unless Liberians consider leadership as a service to people and put the interest of the country first as opposed to an opportunity to seek pecuniary gains.

The ALJA boss called on leaders in public service to be men and women of integrity who espouse high professional standards and moral principles. 

He urged them to have the moral courage and conviction to speak out against societal ills wherever they exist and in spite of the consequences.

He urged Liberians in the Diaspora not to lose sight of the enormous opportunity they have to give back to their country irrespective of the current political dispensation. 

The ALJA boss thanked Diaspora based organizations that continue to support the growth and development of the country through different sectors.

Mr. Mason urged the newly elected officers to be different and maximize the potential of the organization, noting that they need to set the bar high and strive for excellence.

Serving as installing officer, honorary Consul General of Liberia, Midwest Region, Jackson George, urged the elected officers to be tolerant to remain focused on the awesome responsibilities entrusted to them by the membership of the Association.

Those installed were Aloysius Gargar, President; Mercy Travers, Vice President; and Teaker Harris, Secretary. Others are Brenda Davis-Tayor, Treasurer and Jeanne Tabla, Chaplain.

The AME Zion University Alumni Association is a charitable organization founded since the first graduating class of 1999.