MICAT defends CBL Governor-designate

he Government of Liberia thru the Ministry of Information has sharply reacted to critics and the general public about the credentials of the new Executive Governor-designate, for the Central Bank of Liberia, saying degree is just an ordinary paper that one can boast of achieving, but it is experience that qualifies an individual for any tough governmental or public job.

Deputy Information Minister for Public Affairs Isaac W. Jackson argues that while Liberians are looking at the House of elders [senate] to scrutinize this young man, there were others in the public domain saying all kinds of negative things about the CBL governor-designate.

“I can say this to anyone intelligently that you can have more degrees than a thermometer, if you do not compliment those degrees with experience you are likely to walk into error, so it matters little how many degrees you got; I think the CBL Governor-designate brings a wealth of experience to this job,30 years working as a distinguish banker, coupled with a solid Bachelor Degree qualifies him for this job, nobody can beat this”, Minister Jackson defended Thursday, 12 May in a press briefing at the Ministry of Information, Cultural Affairs and Tourism on Capitol Hill.

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf nominated Mr. Milton A. Weeks recently to the Central Bank after Dr. Joseph Mills Jones tenure of service expired early this year. He appeared before the Liberian Senate recently for confirmation hearing and told members of that august body that with his vast professional experience, he can effectively run the Central bank where he had also worked as a consultant.

The nominee is a 1982 graduate of Syracuse University based in the United States of America, majoring in Finance coupled with very vast professional experience both in Liberia and Nigeria. His academic credential for the top post has generated huge sentiments in the public.

But responding to the critics, Minister Jackson says there is no way Weeks will come in a terrain that he is not familiar with so Liberians should put the degrees business aside and think about bringing competent people who will contribute to the growth and development of the country, saying “No one can beat this man’s wealth of experience that he brings to this job. This is not an argument that can sell; we’re talking about credibility – does he have a credibility challenge, nobody can come to say that Mr. Milton A. Weeks has integrity program and this where the government is focus on.”

The deputy MICAT boss narrated that the CBL Governor-designate has served in many capacities, and in many countries, including Nigeria and South Africa, occupying post such as Chief Executive Officer for a Nigerian Bank.

“For a Liberia man to serve at that level in a foreign country I think he is well- qualified for this position.” Though the revised Act of the Central Bank of Liberia does not say anything about the education qualifications of an Executive Governor, it states that the management of the CBL shall be conducted by the Executive Governor, who shall be Chairman of the Board of Governors.

According to the Act, the Governor shall also serve as Chief Executive of the bank, responsible to the Board of Governors for the implementation of its policies, and must be in charge of the day-to-day management of the CBL.

By Lewis S. Teh-Editing by Jonathan Browne