The Political Leader of the Alternative National Congress (ANC), Alexander Cummings, has cautioned Liberians about the grave consequences of repeating past mistake to elect President George Weah for a second term.
Cummings said such a mistake would further worsen the deteriorating economic conditions, increase the suffering of the vast majority and subject more Liberians to extreme poverty and dehumanizing conditions.
Cummings said the five years of President Weah’s leadership has been characterized by gross mismanagement of the economy, massive corruption and dysfunctional institutions, which has failed to attract direct foreign investment and create jobs.
In an interview with Truth Radio FM on State of the nation talk shows, Thursday, August 18, Cummings said Liberia is likely to become a failed state—unless the Weah regime is replaced with a more credible leadership to stop the rampant stealing, the wanton killings and mysterious disappearances of peaceful citizens.
He made reference to the U.S government sanctions on three senior officials of the Weah administration as indications of the international community’s impatience with the continued public stealing and gross mismanagement of the country’s resources, and must therefore not be allowed to continue unabated.
He said the culture of stealing with impunity and failing to hold public officials accountable must stop to ensure that the country’s resources benefits all Liberians.
He said Liberia needs serious transformation to put in system, processes, rules and regulations that will hold public officials accountable and penalize them for official misconduct and outright stealing of public resources.
The ANC Political Leader said, if elected, he would empower and support integrity institutions, including the Liberia Anti-Corruption Commission (LACC), and the General Auditing Commission (GAC), grant them autonomous status and the required independence to fully function in keeping with their statutory responsibilities.
He vowed against political interference or any form of witch-hunt in holding current or past public officials for alleged crimes committed.
Responding to questions about what makes him different from other politicians in the presidential race, Cummings said he is the best prepared to grow the economy, attract direct foreign investment and create the much-needed jobs based on his outstanding international record when he served as President of Coca- cola Global, managing over U$2 billion in asset.
Cummings said he would apply the same corporate management skills and experience and ensure the best, the most qualified and competent Liberians are selected for public office, irrespective of their political or religious affiliations, to change Liberia into a prosperous nation.