As the former ruling party, now opposition and member of the Collaborating Political Parties (CPP), Unity Party (UP), goes to election soon to elect a new party Chairman and other officials, who will steer the affairs of the party, the Hot Pepper is bringing to spotlight candidates who have the ambition to contest for the Chairman position.
Ahead of the UP pending convention, this medium has reliably gathered the names of Worlea Saywah Dunah, Conmany B. Wesseh, George Wisner and Amin Modad as those who have expressed their intent to contest for the party’s Chairman position. A few months ago, the party expelled its Chairman, Wilmot Paye, for administrative reasons.
Worlea Saywah Dunah hailed from one of Liberia’s vote-rich counties, Nimba. Dunah obtained his first degree in political economics from the University of Liberia (UL) and later obtained a professional law degree from the Louis Arthur Grimes Law School, University of Liberia. He is currently a practicing lawyer at the Century Law Offices, Ashmum Street.
He served as a Representative for Nimba County’s district #3 from 2006 to 2012, and was re-elected in 2011 as Representative for the then district #3, now district #7, following the demarcation which was done as a result of the conduct of the national census. Dunah, who won the 2005 election on New Deal Movement ticket, officially joined the Unity Party in May 2009. Since his coming to the party, he has exhibited commitment and also served as secretary for the party’s legislative caucus. Due to his commitment, another partisan, Roger Domah, got elected in the 2017 election after his 12 years in office.
The Nimba County former lawmaker served as Chair on the House’s Committee on Judiciary and head of the delegation to the African Caribbean Pacific and European Union Joint Parliamentary Assembly (ACP-EU JPA). He also served on the International Council of Parliamentarians for Global Action and on Parliamentary Network on World Bank, IMF and Small Arms and Light Weapons.
While representing the Liberian Legislature on the above-mentioned international parliamentary organization, Attorney Dunah addressed US Congress, Japanese Parliament, Praque, Budapest and Stockholm. He furthermore addressed international conferences in Kampala, Cape Town, San Salvador, Dakar, Love and Ethiopia.
Atty. Dunah, political pundits believe, being a progressive who adheres to the ideology of social democracy and, having served as opposition during former President Charles Taylor’s regime as Secretary General of the New Deal Movement, is well positioned to vie for the position. According to an independent research conducted, Dunah has no political defeat history since his coming into politics. Political observers also believe Dunah cuts across the youths and adults, terming him as a young-adult.
As a party loyalist, investigation has established that the Nimba County former lawmaker has always demonstrated his commitment in supporting candidates on the party ticket. A political analyst who spoke with this medium averred that Dunah has a political base (Nimba); therefore, his chairmanship may bring the needed result in electoral processes.
Conmany B. Wesseh hailed from one of the lowest populated counties, River Gee. Wesseh earned undergraduate degree from the University of Liberia (UL) and a graduate degree from the University of Ghana, where he studied public administration with emphasis in public development.
Wesseh is a founding member of the Liberia National Student Union (LINSU) and a former President of the University of Liberia Student Union (ULSU) in 1978. He is also a founding member of the Movement for Justice in Africa (MOJA). MOJA played key role in the 1979 rice riot in Liberia. He is considered in the country’s body politics as a progressive with advocacy background in human rights.
Wesseh served as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Europe Union (EU) during President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration. He also served as deputy minister at the Ministry of Youth and Sports during the interim government period. He has served many other posts in government since his coming into politics.
Wesseh contested in a by-election created by the death of Senator Isaac Johnson, River Gee County, and lost to Nathaniel Williams, also late. He re-contested in 2014 and won as senator for River Gee County. He has a political defeat record based on the research done so far.
According to investigation, Senator Wesseh has close tie with the Alternative National Congress (ANC) political leader, Alexander B. Cummings, and may go against the presidency of Ambassador Joseph Boakai in the 2023 election. Wesseh and Cummings hail from the same Southeast. Pundits believe that, with the aging status of Wesseh and his obligation as Senator, he may not be suitable to occupy this position. Cummings’s birth county, Maryland, is bordering with River Gee, a county which Wesseh is representing as senator.
George Wisner hailed from another less populated county, Maryland. He earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Liberia. While on campus, Wisner was a student activist but could not win student leadership in student politics. He was defeated by Rufus Neufville when he contested to become student leader at the state-run university.
Wisner served as Assistant Minister for Afro-Asian Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Executive Director, National Investment Commission (NIC), during former President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s administration. He also served the Sirleaf administration in many areas during her 12 years.
Wisner became a full member of Unity Party in 2010, ahead of the 2011 general elections. His desire to serve the party leadership started far back, but he has been unfortunate in terms of winning the party leadership position. He got defeated by former Chairman, Wilmot Paye, for the secretary position.
Wisner is a young-adult and may have close tie with the youth of the party. Unfortunately, Wisner’s critics say his human relationship is poor and may affect him in getting the youths’ votes in the impending convention. Political observers question Wisner’s political base because he hails from Maryland, the home of Cummings. Critics further allege that Wisner has family relationship with Ambassador Joseph N. Boakai, Standard Bearer of the party.
Amin Modad is a successful Liberian businessman. He was born in 1975, and his mother hails from Lofa County, the home of the party political leader, Joseph N. Boakai. Modad is the founder of the Bella Casa Hotel in Sinkor. He is the founder of the Atlantic Foods Company, and Atlantic Construction and Energy.
He worked with the World Trade Organization (WTO) and other international business organizations, and has over 20 years of experience within the private sector. Investigation conducted did not establish the time he joined the Unity Party and his county of origin.
It is also alleged that Modad is related to Ambassador Boakai from his mother’s side. He is considered by many as a long time supporter of the Unity Party. Modad’s critics claim that he is not a Liberian and know nothing about the running of a political party. Critics further claim that Modad has no political experience, as compared to business experience which has been proved by the establishment of businesses in Liberia. It is also alleged that he is opting to use his cash to buy the party.