Dual Citizenship Law Protects the Employment of Diaspora Liberians in Gov’t
-Says ALCOD’s Eminent Chairman Wettee
The Eminent Chairman of the All-Liberian Conference on Dual Citizenship (ALCOD), Mr. Emmanuel S. Wettee, has weighed in on the ongoing debate about diaspora Liberians now leaving their bases in the US, Europe and other places, flocking in Liberia, to seek for jobs from the incoming Administration of President-elect, former Vice-President Joseph Nyuma Boakai.
President-elect Boakai is poised to ascend to the nation’s Presidency on January 22, 2024, after which he will definitely make some new appointments of Liberians in his Administration.
While this is yet to happen, some Liberians, especially those on the grounds in Liberia, have begun to alarm that only qualified Liberians presently residing in Liberia should be the ones appointed to governmental posts and not Liberians living in the diaspora. According to Eminent Wettee, among those local Liberians’ unfounded concerns is that diaspora Liberians, especially those with dual citizenships, will not be loyal to the government and people of Liberia. “This argument is made about diaspora Liberians only when the issue of government or private jobs in Liberia are discussed. Outside of jobs, local Liberians see all diaspora Liberians as Liberians irrespective of them having dual citizenships or not. This is the duplicity that has negatively impacted national development and growth. The remittances from diaspora Liberians are in fearless competition with direct foreign investments in Liberia. The knowledge, education, skills, and experiences of some diaspora Liberians with dual citizenship surpass that of foreign expatriates, who are paid using taxpayers’ money.”
Eminent Wettee told journalists recently that the Liberian laws equally guarantee the rights of all qualified Liberians, whether presently residing in Liberia or outside, the privilege of working in government if and when given the opportunity to serve. He further argues that corruption is triggered by one’s evil behavior and not one’s citizenship. “The number is countless; if counts were made on those Liberians with only Liberian citizenship that are involved in corruptions including but not limited to those selling in the markets, operating transportation vehicles, kekeh drivers, local businesspeople, educators, police, and land sellers. Land sellers sell one land to more than one person; this attribute has nothing to do with one’s citizenship but characters.”
Eminent Wettee also said that the 2023 Presidential and Legislative Elections witnessed a huge participation of diaspora Liberians in Liberia, in addition to their financial resources. He disclosed that diaspora Liberians also actively participated in the nation’s body politics mainly on Spoon Talk, Focus on Liberia (FOL), and the Closing Argument. “Views expressed on these platforms influenced how people participated and voted in the 2023 elections,” he added.
“Political parties, including Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC), Unity Party (UP), Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Liberian People’s Party (LPP), and others got financial support from their diaspora memberships. About 5,000 Liberians from the diaspora with dual citizenship voted in the just-ended 2023 elections,” Eminent Wettee said.
According to the Eminent, when it was time to canvass for vote during the elections, the issue of diaspora Liberians having dual citizenship was not considered or mentioned. “Now that the elections are over and a new government is about to take over leadership, the issue of loyalty to Liberia is becoming an issue. It is now Diaspora Liberians Vs Local Liberians.”
Touching on loyalty to the government, Eminent Wettee stated that the issue of Madam Ellen Corkrum’s saga at the Roberts International Airport, included some local Liberians without dual citizenship. “Again, corruption is influenced by one’s character and not citizenship. Enforcing the current laws in Liberia can fight corruption, determine, and protect loyalty to Liberia.”
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Eminent stated that there should be no argument about who should be employed or not; adding: “Only Liberians can develop Liberia, and this will require all Liberians from the diaspora and locals to put their skills, knowledge, education, and experiences on the table to help develop their country.”
The dual citizenship law signed by President George Manneh Weah on July 22, 2022, guarantees the right of diaspora Liberians with dual citizenship/nationality to seek or be appointed to government positions, ranging from Ministers, Deputy, Assistant, Director, Ambassador, Enterprise, Corporations, Educational Institutions, and more. However, there are limited and reasonable restrictions on certain governmental positions as compared to others dual citizenship laws in West African countries, like Ghana, Nigeria, or Sierra Leona.
Article 4 – Section 2: Limitation on appointment to certain Public Offices states: “A Liberian citizen, who holds the citizenship of another country, shall not be eligible for the appointment to the public offices of Minister of Finance and Development Planning, Minister of Defense and Executive Governor of the Central Bank of Liberia.”
He reminisced that in 2014, the Senate Committee on Education and Public Administration recommended to the Senate’s plenary that Education Minister-designate, Dr. Elizabeth Davis-Russell be rejected because she holds an American citizenship. This will not be the case for any diaspora Liberian with dual citizenship, who will be nominated by President Joseph Nyumah Boakai. The current law protects diaspora Liberians with dual citizenship employment in government, except those mentioned in Article 4 Section 2 in “An Act to Amend and/or Nullify Certain Provision of The Aliens and Nationality Law relating to Citizenship and Restoring The Citizenship Rights Lost As A Consequence Of Those Provisions” passed by the National Legislature and approved by President Weah. “Once A Liberian Always A Liberian”’.
Since President Weah signed the law on July 22nd, 2022, diaspora Liberians with dual citizenship can vote, travel to Liberia without a visa by using their Liberian passport, a child born by a Liberian mother is a citizen of Liberia at birth, and more.
Read on “my value……..” By the ex-vice of the (soccer) football president.
She should have changed her name after the divorce with the prisoner in Europe. She did not listen to her biological father’s people. The name Taylor might have reduced the fame of her mate who may remain popular without her party affiliation. Blood is thicker than water.
There is only Liberia we know as ours.
It also complicates your ability to identify with a choice of one. Are you a Liberian? Are you an American? American-Liberian? Liberian-American? Are you one or none? If you are both, sit in both seats at the same time let’s see. Carry your dual on it’s bench. The trio might or might not be forgotten or foreseen. Being dual or quadruple does not matter to Liberia because we know our secret heritage left by our founders.