Gbarnga prepares for UP convention

Serious momentum is said to be building up in Gbarnga, Bong County ahead of the governing Unity Party’s national convention in the provisional city tomorrow, Thursday, July 7th.

Report from Bong says partisans of the party have already begun making preparations, booking hotels and leading a massive cleanup of the UP’s headquarters. Guests have started arriving for the national convention that is expected to bring together about 1000 persons from all 15 political subdivisions of Liberia.

Local business houses are increasing stocks with proprietors in jubilant mood, anticipating huge sales and economic benefits during the course of the convention that is expected to produce the party’s next corps of officers, including a standard bearer to contest for the Presidency in the 2017 elections.

Liberia’s Vice President Joseph Nyumeh Boakai, is expected to be elected on white ballot to take the UP to elections in the wake of the recent resignation of Economist and Diplomat, Dr. Togar Gaywea McIntosh, citing lack of unity in the party. Dr. McIntosh had earlier thrown his hat into the race for the standard bearer post.

Since last month, many of Gbarnga’s luxurious hotels were booked for the convention, as one of the hotel owners told our correspondent they have no space left on grounds that the facility are being exclusively reserved for Unity Party officials, who are ministers in government.

With the party gearing up for a showdown, some observers have begun chanting the name of Vice President Joseph Boakai as incoming standard bearer. Mr. Boakai passed through the county Tuesday on his way to Nimba County where he will remain until the kickoff of the convention tomorrow.

By Papa Morris-Editing by Jonathan Browne