-Citizens in His Defense
Amidst heated debate amongst members of the Liberian Senate on Gbarpolu County Senator, Amara Konneh’s recent remarks, suggesting that the Guinean Army is larger and well equipped than the Liberian Army, Liberians in support of the Senator’s remarks, said he said nothing wrong that warrants his expulsion.
The Gabrpoplu Senator’s comparison of the size and strength of the armies of the two neighboring West African Countries came in the wake of the ongoing border crisis between the two neighboring countries.
In his remarks during last Thursday’s sitting of the Senate, Senator Konneh, a staunch supporter of the ruling Unity Party of President Joseph N. Boakai, painted a vivid picture of the size and logistical capacity of the Liberian Army and suggested an increment in the Army’s budget to augment its numerical strength and procure more military equipment befitting a national army of a country, such as Liberia.
The comparison reveals a significant disparity in the military strength of the two armies. The Guinean military is ranked 125 globally with thirteen thousand active troops and a robust defense budget, while Liberia ranks 163 globally with only two thousand active troops and a much smaller defense budget.
What others consider as a fair comparison of the two armies is likely leading the Gbarpolu Senator into trouble with some of his colleagues, as they are consider his suspension for allegedly disclosing classified security information in favor of the Republic of Guinea.
It can also be recalled that Konneh recently came under a barrage of criticisms when he was accused of saying that Liberian security forces were arresting Guinean nationals, particularly, his Mandingo kinsmen without any justifiable cause.
While his recent remarks are being debated across the Country, a fellow Senator, Nya Twayen, of Nimba County has called on the Body to initiate and investigation of the Gbarpolu County Senator and if necessary, expel him from the Senate for allegedly disclosing classified security information.
“Shame on you for taking Guinea over Liberia, People like you don’t deserve a seat at the Senate”, Senator Twayen is quoted as saying to the Gbarpolu Senator and former minister of finance minister during the regime of former President, Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf.
Liberians in defense of Konneh argued that he has a right to freedom of expression as required under the Liberian Constitution and that it is an opened secret that the Liberian military has a limited capacity and a minimum budget as compared to the Guinean military.
Just a few weeks ago, members of the Lower House of the Legislature expelled Montserrado County District-10 Representative, Yekeh Kolubah, who, during the height of the Liberian-Guinean border crisis remarked that the disputed piece of land belongs to Guinea and not Liberia. Forty nine members of the 73-member House of Representatives voted in favor of Yekeh’s expulsion.
