Filed in by Olando Testimony Zeongar – 0776819983/0880-361116/life2short4some@yahoo.com
Monrovia – First Lady, Mrs. Clar M. Weah’s recent disclosure that her foundation needs an additional US$10 million, aside from the US$1 million allotted in the national budget to fund the charity named in her honor, “The Clar Hope Foundation,” is drawing ire.
On last Sunday, President George Weah’s wife, First Lady Clar Weah, during the official launch of her foundation, informed Liberians that the allocation of US$1 million by the Government of Liberia in its budget is insufficient, stating that she would need an added sum of US$10 million to take up and maintain projects, which include the construction of maternity hospital, schools and the Hope Community for the less fortunate as well as advocating against gender-based violence and implementing agricultural programs.
First Lady Clar Weah said through her foundation, which she said is non-political, she endeavors to give young Liberians and the elderly hope, by creating an equitable society in the country, where women and children are healthy, provided education and fully empowered for a prosperous life.
“I just want to say something about funding. The government funds me and all of you need to know this – the government funds me, yes! But the projects I want to do for the Liberian people US$500,000 can’t do it; a million dollar can’t do it,” the First Lady said.
She continued: “I’m usually a reserved person, I have a heart for people, I go places and I beg for help on behalf of the Liberian people. I don’t do it for myself, I do it for you because I want to better your life.”
Although Mrs. Weah said she is grateful to Liberians for the US$1 million budgetary allocation for her foundation, she said The Clar Hope Foundation has a lot to do, for which she needs US$10 million.
“I need 10 million to do the project but after we have to continue for the community to grow. I don’t want to stop in Monrovia. As soon as the President and government begin to build the roads, I want to build another one in that area. We will continue to beg on your behalf, for our children, they are our future – so I just need your support,” Mrs. Weah requested.
But since this request was made by their First Lady, several Liberians continue to express outrage, with many taking to social media to register their disafaction about the desire of Mrs. Weah, for more money.
Many others are citing conflict of interest regarding the First Lady’s ‘more money’ request – Section 9.6 of the country’s Code of Conduct regarding the use of public office for private interest states: “No Public Official or Employee of Government should use an official position to pursue private interests that may result in conflict of interest.”
“Clar Weah says she’s doing favor for Liberian people. Asking for 10million annually for charity in the budget. Funniest joke in Oct,” on Tuesday, a Liberian Samuel Hwisedeh, posted on Facebook in the group page, “The Darius Dillon Center For Intellectual Exchange,” a social media forum run by the vice chairman for political affairs of the opposition Liberty Party, Mr. Abraham Darius Dillon.
Referring to President Weah, Samuel further says, “Jorweah really find Liberia ooh… Wife requesting 10million in the budget yearly for charity but acquired land in her own name.”
“The newest way to run charity… Ask someone for their own money. Use portion of the money to buy them food. Clar Weah’s formula,” he added.
Moments after it appeared on Facebookhe, the thread beneath his post has witnessed and continue to witness a heap of comments.
Emmanuel Z. Suah wrote: “Is there any history on Clar’s Charity Foundation in Jamaica? She doesn’t have a hand pump in her Community in Kingston.”
Kollie Moses Kerkulah Jr. said: … “her husband stealing already, then she wan start her own.”
Yimuda Harris, for his part, applauded his fellow Liberians slamming the First Lady for her US$10 million request, saying, “You guys are right@Emmanuel and Madagbeh ,these are some of the things we do not care to know about but it’s the reality of things. 10million for what?Charity?” He asked.
Harris continued: “Your husband salary alone can do something great concerning that Charity Foundation but you think it can not make you rich over night and you are calling for 10million to carry it Jamaica so you can spoil it on whatsoever less important thing you want to do with it.We are not bunch [of] fools in Liberia.The riches you don’t have in Jamaica you can not have it here either.”
Even though First Lady Clar Weah says she needs the extra US$10 million to among other things, be actively engaged with Liberians, something she did not do in the past, when he husband was rich while playing football, blaming her inability to do so on Liberia’s civil war, many citizens harbor the belief that the Weahs have no proven track record of successfully managing any business, let alone running a charity.
Mrs. Weah said: “A lot of you people are not familiar with me, but I have been in Liberia a very long time. Yes, the war – I married George Weah. There was a time we were going to the neighboring countries, we were in Ivory Coast, we were in Ghana in the refugee camps, many of you don’t know that, I had kids to take care of in the US. George told me he was going to be struggling – I was taking care of the kids and I wasn’t able to come and do some of the works that I always wanted to do.”
She continued: “When George got elected to be President, I realized that my life has to be here. I don’t think that Liberia needs an absentee First Lady because I know that you guys have not had a first lady in a long time.”
“I’m doing this from the bottom of my heart and the only thing I can ask – I’m not here for the fame. I’m not here for the money. Like I said last night, how much money do we really need to survive? What would it take for all of us to care for one child, how many cars do we need to drive? – this is the food for the thought. But we have to be our brothers’ keepers. I’m your First Lady and the only way I can survive is with your help. Try to work with me to build hope city, try to work with me to help the elderly,” the First Lady continued her plea for more money to run her foundation.
The First Lady further said:“I love kids and I had my own experience growing up where my father died when I was very young, and as I grew up I became confident in myself. Sometimes, it just take one person, you don’t need that many people, you just need one good person to effect change.”
But scores of Liberians, in reaction to the First Lady’s assertions, point to records available to them that the Division of Corporations in the State of Florida, the USA, show that the Weahs once registered a foundation, “The Weah Children Foundation Inc, but said record shows that the foundation never got its feet off the ground since its formation on March 30, 2004, and to date, it as good as dead.
They maintain that if the Weahs did not run a charity to help needy Liberians when her husband now president, was playing soccer internationally and earning millions of dollars, why should the First Lady want to do so now, with the claim that she wants to do now for the Liberian people what they failed to do then.
Punch online service has confirmed that the document filing number N0400000005623 for the dormant foundation shows that the account is still listed as inactive, resulting to a post from administrators of the account that said account was dissolved on September 14, 2007.
