Some concerned citizens of Grand Gedeh County against the confirmation of the recent superintendent-designate, former Representative Alex C. Grant, and his supporters on Wednesday, March 6, 2024 clashed on Capitol Hill ahead of the conduct of his planned confirmation hearing. Over three persons got wounded as the result of Wednesday’s clash between the two opposing groups.
Since the appointment of the former Grand GedehCounty Representative as superintendent, there has been repeated protests against his confirmation by the Liberian Senate. The anti-Grant confirmation protesters were seen with placards calling on the Liberian Senate not to confirm former Representative Grant, while those in favor of Grant’s appointment as superintendent were also seen on Capitol Hill with placards in his favor. Both anti- and pro-Grant confirmation protesters were chased out of Capitol Building by police officers after the police noticedthat their protest resulted into stone throwing.
Speaking to the Hot Pepper after the protest, one of the anti-Grant confirmation protesters, Derrick P. Barshell,claimed the county’s former representative is an education fraudster and cannot therefore superintend a county with a high level of educated people. He also accused Grant of involvement in some of the ritualistic killings that have taken place in the county. Moreover, Barshell accused Grant of not being a reconciler, and so he should not beconfirmed. He appealed to President Boakai to withdraw the nomination in the interest of the people of Grand Gedeh County.
As a result of the protest, the Senate Committee on Internal Affairs and Good Governance, chaired by Nimba County Senator Prince Johnson, postponed the confirmation hearing to an unknown date. The Senate,through the committee, promised to inform the public of the new date.
