MONROVIA – AFinance and Development Planning Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan has praised the Liberian workforce for being very important in the delivery chain of the many progress that are achieved daily in the economy.
The nation’s top, Chief Economist gave the praises Tuesday, June 10, when he delivered the keynote address at the induction ceremony of officers-elect of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Workers’ Association (MoFAWA).
Using MoFAWA as a representation of public service, he said even though Ministers or the bosses are always on the top floors, they are there dealing with “upper floors issues and concentrating.” They are not worried most times for what’s happening below “because some people are taking care and doing very well of the floors below. The reason why leaders can achieve is because the foundation is strong. The reason why leaders can sprint is because they have good workers.”
“So, whereas all the praises go to the big people, but the praises also belong to the people below. Because if things are not working well below, the attention of the people up there will not be on upper-level issues,” he added.
He then told the Ministry of Foreign Affairs workers, who had gathered in the C. Cecil Dennis Hall of the Foreign Ministry to hear him, that because they have been doing their shares of work, Liberia won the non-permanent seat election. “You have the team to focus on the lobbying, the marketing, the partnership that made us to win. So, this victory is also for you,” he added.
The Finance Minister who once served as Foreign Minister from 2012 to 2013, during the reign of former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, cautioned the inducted leadership of MoFAWA: “But, I need to tell you this, don’t make the mistake that others do. To be in the leadership of MoFAWA or any workers association is not only to be the ambassador of workers to management or to administration, but you must be, if you must be effective, you must be a double ambassador. You must be the ambassador of the workers to administration and you must be the ambassador of administration to the workers.”
The Finance Minister among other things talked about President Joseph Nyuma Boakai’s plan to improve the livelihood of Liberia’s civil servants. “This year, the government made salary top-ups for more than 28,000 civil servants in the health, education, police, and judiciary sectors,” Minister Ngafuan stated. “This is a clear demonstration of President Boakai’s commitment to enhancing the livelihoods of civil servants.”
He boasted that the working conditions at most entities have improved then it was before the administration came to power, a signal of better days ahead.
He also took time to praise and thank Foreign Minister Sara Beysolow Nyanti and other senior officials of the Foreign Ministry for their lobby that led to Liberia wining the non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council.
Those inducted to the MoFAWA’s leadership included Mr. Samuel Saah Borbor, Sr., President; Mr. Oddyessus Gwoleh Brown, Vice President; Mrs. Elvera M.F. Tarr, Secretary General; amongst others.
