Liberia launches investment consultancy firm

President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has launched a premier Liberian-owned Investment Consultancy and Advisory firm here, headed by former Grand Kru County Senator, Cletus Wortorson and several retired senior government officials and professionals.

The firm named ‘Liberian Investment Consultancy and Advisory Associates Incorporated’ is a combination of professionals from diverse fields, including the oil and gas sectors, legal and political fields, among others, with a vision to provide consultancy to businesses and investors in the country.

The occasion was graced by dozens of past and present senators, including ex-senate Pro-Tempore Milton Findley; past presidential candidates Cllrs. Winston Tubman and Charles Brumskine; incumbent Chief Justice Francis S. Korkpor, Sr. and Associate Justice Kabineh M. Ja’neh, among others. 

Having cut ribbons to the business’ office in Congo Town on Friday, 13 February, 2015, President Sirleaf pledged full support and contribution to the newly launched initiative.

The Liberian leader expressed confidence that it will inspire many people, especially in regards to promoting Liberian owned businesses, as she anticipates the professional consultancy and exemplified integrity and dignity that ex-senator Wortorson and his team bring to the service.

President Sirleaf recalled the long road ex-senator Wortorson had traveled in public service, especially when, according to her, both of them served as ministers “at a time public service was an honorable thing.”

Even as both of them headed different branches of government during her presidency, President Sirleaf acknowledged that they maintained independence for national growth.

Earlier speaking, Mr. Wortorson said he was grateful that President Sirleaf could find time in her schedule to be present at the launch of the business.

He said the launch of the consultancy business by him and his colleagues was in response to demands coming from a good number of ex-students, who have been asking him to transfer his experience and skills to them through such venture upon his retirement from the Legislature.

The ex-Grand Kru County lawmaker underscored the need for professionals in the post-conflict Liberia that has in recent time been ravaged by Ebola virus, telling President Sirleaf and guests at the occasion that it was an open secret that Liberia faced a huge human resource capacity gap.

While expressing fear that “we are unable to rebuild that human capacity gap” within the time frame anticipated, Mr. Wortorson urged that Liberians engage the human expertise of its own amid the existing capacity challenge here.

He said the story of Liberia continues to remain worrisome, lamenting that the country continues to remain poor in the midst of vast natural resources.

He observed that quality education remains a gap here even though he says there is widespread access to education that lacks technical skills and computer education to prepare students.

Mr. Wortorson says Liberian students are naturally talented, but suggested the need to revive the educational system in order to augment the talents of students.

He concluded by applauding President Sirleaf and her government for a policy aimed at empowering Liberian owned businesses, and for government’s stance to disprove health experts’ prediction on the Ebola crisis in the country.

By Winston W. Parley