By Thomas Kai Toteh

Government officials are supposed to be nominated or appointed to positions based on competence, trust and morality as a way of showing good examples for the people to emulate. The collapse of law and order, civility, and human rights in Africa has always been the abuse of power by government officials who go unpunished by the judicial branch of government.

The flogging and dragging of Winsley Nenka at the Ministry of Public Works by Klon Jabbah and his accomplices a fortnight ago, is a criminal offense. Unfortunately, this violent crime has taken a form of civil matter as suspension and apology overshadow the legal system designed to punish and deter crimes in society. After two weeks of the commission of this violent crime, the government of Liberia has not given a clear-cut explanation into why no arrest has been made.

Ironically, in the midst of the violent crime committed against a government official by another government official, even though their positions have no significance to the legal system, a non-violent crime, mosquito nets theft is the main focus of police now in Monrovia. Liberian media, both online and print, give little coverage to the threat of violence faced by Liberians.

A local daily in Monrovia has reported that Kloh Jabbah, a suspect in the violent crime against Winsley Nenka left town to travel to Ghana on government’s duty. The Liberian National police did not issue any arrest and no reason has been given why the suspect remains a free man after inflicting pain and suffering on Winsley Nenka.

                                             Winsley Nenka

According to sources, police did not go on the scene to collect physical evidence after the crime, and did not take eyewitnesses’ oral statements detailing what they have seen or known about the crime. It appears the crime is downplayed perhaps, as a result of the offender’s position in government. Instead of arresting and prosecuting the individual the Ministry of Public Works has purportedly suspended Kloh Jabbah and issued an apology.

A call by a local human rights group in Liberia for the arrest and prosecution of Jabbah must be heeded if Liberia must break away from the past. The past is history, but history can repeat itself if the people fail to learn from the past and correct their mistakes, because Liberia’s current state is the result of this scenario. Liberians have witnessed the public flogging of citizens and government officials by directives of so-called senior officials, who often flogged their subordinates. It’s needless to enumerate events here but the fact is that Liberia is a failed state and the cause is deep-rooted in human rights abuses.

The government of Liberia was mandated not only to fight against dishonesty, but also must attack all aspects of corruption. Corruption is a combination of dishonesty for personal gain, or the exploitation of power for personal gain. This includes the protection of all citizens from social and economic harms. This protection should not be focused only on street crimes, but crimes against humanity, regardless of the offender’s position in society.

 Liberians all over the world have been asked to return home to contribute to the reconstruction of their country, and have also been queried why they refuse to return home. But who wants to return home and be flogged for performing their duties? Is Liberia safe? It is hard to accept that Liberia may return to its past where individual rights are not respected and protected. And if this happens revenge is the only substitute for victims who feel there is no law. 

This is why every Liberian at home and abroad must put pressure on government through non-violent means to use the law, and only the law can restore human rights in Liberia.

 Thomas Kai Toteh, is a Freelance journalist/writer