The Political Leader of the proposed Greater Action Party of Liberia (GAPL), Dr. Telford E. K. Ammons, has unveiled his vision for the Liberia he wants to see in 2023 and beyond.
Addressing the OK Morning Rush on FM 99.5 on Tuesday, March 8, 2022, Dr. Ammons stated that he has set his sight on electrifying every household, including huts. With an affordable electrification of every household, he said he intends to provide every household with air conditioners to avoid mosquito bites, that normally lead to malaria.
“We want to provide communities, medical professionals and patients with the tools, information and skills they need to make good decisions about prevention, diagnosis, treatment, care and support,” he told the talk show.
He placed within his manifesto the issue of equipping and empowering youth, with strong focus on the critical role young people have to play in an inclusive and democratic process. He also talked about fostering social, cohesive, economic development and political stability in the country.
According to him, participation in the nation-building process is important since young people play a significant role in the Liberian society.
Also on the agenda of the proposed GAPL Political Leader is the creation of tax jurisdictions. He said without taxes government would be unable to meet the demands of their societies. “Taxes are crucial because government collects money and uses it to finance social projects. Instead, we will create a proper tax procedure so that the public gets the most benefit out of it,” said Dr. Ammons.
He is also focusing on creating shelters for displaced youth to put an end to many displaced young adults living in graveyards.
Further, he said he intends to build a continuous flow of incoming investments for opportunities and creation of businesses and entrepreneurship in pleasurable atmospheres.
Come 2023’s general and presidential elections, Dr. Ammons promises to be a force to reckon with, and regards himself as the true servant to rescue Liberia. However, he said this cannot be achieved without the full support of Liberian citizens.
Dr. Ammons is the great-grandson of Gabriel Ammons, an Africa returnee to Liberia after slavery, later becoming Colonel in the Liberian army, farmer, and a prosperous landowner.
He is also the grandson of Fish Town’s herbalist and head doctor from Maryland County, who was honored by President William V.S. Tubman for his contribution to society. Dr. Ammons is an adopted grandson of the first Liberian florist, decorator and businesswoman, Martha Prout Dennis, affectionately called “Mother Dear”. She gave him his seed money to become an exchange student candidate, with “Youth for Understanding” in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Back at Niles High School, Telford said, “All my life, I never saw people as black or white, but as collaborators working together; regardless of complexion, composition or complexity.” The idea of bringing together people was a big picture nurtured by his exchange student parents, Helen Gay and John L. Jones Sr. He continues to keep in touch with the Jones, even till today.
After graduation from high school, Dr. Ammons dreamed of bringing together African-Americans, Africans living in the diaspora and those back in the homeland in the collaboration of working and building together.
This sentiment had long been his dream, even before President Barak Obama (whom he met and befriended, during his early years living on Chicago’s Southside) became President of the United States. While pursuing his associate degree from Southwestern College in Dowagiac Michigan, it culminated into a bachelor of business and accounting degree at Strayer University in Texas. He is currently serving as Strayer’s University “Ambassador”, to influence others to excellence.
Later on, he became motivated to get his master’s, and to encourage his children into seeking higher education. Dr. Ammons received his masters of business administration degree from the University of Texas in Arlington and, thereafter, was conferred with a doctor of foreign business & missions degree from Abundant Faith Christian University in Jackson, Mississippi.
Among his many accomplishments, he is proud to name the University of Laverne in California where he studied Ecumenical Christian Doctrine, headed by Dr. Foster Cragget. But the one that makes him proud is Pastor of Fountain of Grace Church in Arlington for seven years. He has also been a member of First United Methodist and St. Peters Lutheran churches while growing up in Liberia. Recently, he has taken a sabbatical from AME Zion Fort Worth, Texas, as an Associate Pastor.
For more than 30 years, Dr. Ammons has been married to Edita Evangelista Ammons, also holder of an undergraduate engineering degree and master’s of business management. Together they have two grown sons, three daughters and five grandchildren. The oldest son is a businessman and doctor of divinity. The oldest daughter and second son work within two different school districts. Another daughter is a banker, and the youngest daughter is studying to become a doctor of medicine. Telford saw raising his children as his most significant priority and accomplishment. He is mighty proud of them all.