Crocodiletooth
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 28, 2012
- 20,052
- 23,501
Liberia's Central Bank board has
elected the son of Nobel Peace
Prize winning President Ellen
Johnson Sirleaf as its interim
executive governor.
Charles Sirleaf, formerly a deputy
governor who has worked for the
bank since 2004, will occupy the
post for an undefined interim
period.
The previous head, Joseph Mills
Jones, left to prepare his
candidacy for a presidential
election in the West African
country due to take place in 2017.
President Johnson Sirleaf, who
has strong ties with Washington
and is credited with helping the
country recover from a bloody
civil war that ended in 2003, must
step down next year due to a two-
term limit.
She is due to decide on a
permanent successor to Jones, to
steer Liberia's economic recovery
after two years in which the
country endured an Ebola
epidemic and a collapse in the
price of iron ore, its major export
earner.
A source close to the presidency
confirmed the temporary
appointment, without giving an
indication of how long he would
remain.
Some critics accuse Johnson
Sirleaf of appointing family
members and other allies to key
posts throughout her presidency
in order to consolidate her
position.
Another one of her sons, Robert,
was both chairman of the National
Oil Company of Liberia and senior
adviser to the president until he
resigned in 2013. Fumba Sirleaf,
her stepson, is the head of the
National Security Agency.
"This (appointment at the central
bank) is unfair. It is not about
qualifications, but about
expediency," said Emmanuel
Gonquoi, former chairman for the
coalition of civil society in Liberia
and a political commentator.
However, central bank officials
stressed that Charles Sirleaf was a
suitable choice.
"Charles is competent and
qualified for the position," said
one, who asked for anonymity
since he is not qualified to speak
with the media.
n.b
****
African leaders we have today.
