ANC elects Cummings

The Alternative National Congress or ANC headed by the ex-chairman of George Weah’s Congress for Democratic Change(CDC) Lafayette Orashall Gould has elected Liberian entrepreneur Alexander Benedict Cummings as political leader.

The ANC over the weekend convened in the provincial city of Bentol, Montserrado County and elected Mr. Cummings to steer its affairs pending national convention. The gathering which brought together partisans from across the country, was characterized by celebrations, including cultural performances, including masked and traditional dancers from the Grebo tribe of Maryland County, home of Mr. Cummings.

Observers from the National Elections Commission and representatives of some political parties, including the National Patriotic Party of ex-President Charles Taylor witnessed the occasion. Former Information Minister from the Taylor regime, B. Reginald Goodrich, and Tonia King were also present.

ANC National Chairman Lafayette Orashall Gould said, the convention is commenced the party’s journey to assuming state power in 2018 through a democratic process. He said Mr. Cummings is the cleanest aspirant among those declaring interest for the Liberian presidency, since in fact, he spent longer time serving as vice president for Cao Cola in Liberia.

According to him, the acceptance of Mr. Cummings as political leader and subsequently, standard bearer is a strong signal that the ANC is heading for total victory. Mr. Gould calls on all partisans to work tirelessness to ensure victory for the newly formed party, which is considered a breakaway from the Congress for Democratic Change of Senator George Weah. He said for too long the Liberian populace has being living in abject poverty and the ANC has all the answers to the age-old problem.

In his acceptance statement, Mr. Cummings said the ANC is open for collaboration with political parties with similar agenda, which he did not disclose. Flagging his agenda for the country, Cummings said if given the chance to serve as President of Liberia, within six years, Liberian children will have access to quality education, where they will not study under candlelight; instead, constant electricity, pipe borne water and the basic social needs of the citizenry will be delivered at their various homes and workplaces without clearly explaining how he or the party intends to make these achievement.

Cummings said he´s coming to the presidency with huge experience from global corporation, suggesting that challenges facing the country are not strange and that they can be handled speedily. He also promised good governance and transparency as hallmark of his administration, stressing that accountability and transparency bring transformation and economic growth in any country. 

The head of TEAM-Liberia, a pro-Cummings movement, Mr. TaaWongbe said the mission calls for non-traditional approaches, urging every citizen to participate in the upcoming elections, saying “A sound and healthy state is the one in which government recognizes and protects the independent responsibilities that belong to people.”

The ANC is among nearly three dozen political parties here, including President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s governing Unity Party vying for the Presidency in 2017. Madam Sirleaf’s second term expires in 2018, but her Vice President, Joseph Boakai has accepted petition to contest for the Presidency. Latest statistics from the National Elections Commission puts the number of registered political parties at 30 with more being organized for a country with a population of 4 Million.

In the last two elections, no party was able to obtain 50 percent plus one of the total votes cast as required by the Constitution to emerge clear a winner in the first round.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor-Editing by Jonathan Browne