Konneh faces Ngafuan?

Reports gathered in Monrovia suggest that two former Finance Ministers Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan and Amara Konneh are gearing up to battle against each other in the forthcoming Montserrado County Senatorial by-election in a quest to replace former Senator George Manneh Weah, now Liberia’s 24th elected president.

The National Elections Commission (NEC) is expected to announce the timetable for the conduct of the senatorial by election, and aspirants are said to be preparing for the race with Mr. Ngafuan and Mr. Konneh being rumored to be the biggest two contenders so far.

The NEC has already written the Senate President Pro Tempore Albert Chie informing him of vacuums created in the Senate as a result of the elections of Mr. Weah and Mrs. Jewel Howard Taylor as president and vice president of Liberia respectively.

Both Mr. Ngafuan and Mr. Konneh have served as Ministers of Finance separately during the two terms of former President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf who in January turned over office to Mr. Weah in a smooth transition of power.

At the Ministry of Finance, Mr. Ngafuan preceded Mr. Konneh, but Mr. Ngafuan also worked as Foreign Minister before resigning the top post for a presidential ambition he failed to pursue at the 2017 in polls.

His successor Mr. Konneh also resigned as Finance Minister in 2016 to take up an assignment as Manager of the World Bank Group’s Global Fragility, Conflict and Violence (FCV) Hub in Nairobi, Kenya.

Mr. Ngafuan’s private number rang endlessly when he was contacted on several occasions over the emerging development; but when contacted, his contender Mr. Konneh said he’s considering the move and is building consultation throughout the county, including family members, friends and well-wishers.

There are speculations that Mr. Konneh and Mr. Ngafuan have built strong ties with the intellectual class here, and the two are very popular among the young generation.

But there are also concerns that the two former officials have not tested their popularities at national electoral process, thus leaving a question as to which of them could win the minds of voters in Montserrado.

There are suggestions, however, that Mr. Ngafuan will be contesting on the ticket of immediate past ruling Unity Party (UP) of former President Ellen Johnson – Sirleaf while Mr. Konneh is said to be in serious discussions with ruling Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) of Mr. Weah.

But the CDC’s Montserrado County District #8 Rep. Acarous Moses Gray is said to have also expressed interest in contesting the seat, meaning Mr. Konneh has some internal work to do with the CDC if he must run on the ruling party’s ticket.

Mr. Konneh and Mr. Ngafuan are not alone in the race for the Montserrado County senatorial by-election, as opposition Liberty Party (LP) Vice Chairman for Political Affairs Darius Dillon considers making a comeback to yet another senatorial by-election this year after being defeated in a by – election in the county years back.

By E. J. Nathaniel Daygbor–Edited by Winston W. Parley