Editorial

IT CURRENTLY APPEARS that the acts of tribalism, nepotism, sectionalism and favoritism are beginning to reappear on the Liberian political stage in rainbow colors.

IN TIME PAST, these acts used to be called “Who Knows You”, something which undermined good governance and placed the larger portion of the national cake in the hands of a few people whom the system favored.

THE “WHO KNOWS You” culture created class system and denied the vast majority the opportunity to share the national cake.

THE “WHO KNOWS You” system was an informal but powerful way of getting jobs, favors, contracts, or opportunities based on personal connections instead of qualifications.

In simple terms, it wasn’t about what you know. It was about who knows you.

BACK THOSE DAYS — especially before and after the civil war period — many people couldn’t access jobs or government’s opportunities unless someone important new them personally, or was related to them, came from the same town or clan, belonged to the same church or political group, or could vouch for them.

SO IF YOU went for a job interview, sometimes the real question behind the scenes wasn’t your CV… it was: “Who knows this person?” If no one powerful could answer that question, you might not get the job.

SADLY, TALENTED PEOPLE were overlooked while national development was slowed down. This system seems to raise its ugly head in Liberia once, although Liberians today push for: merit-based hiring, transparency, equal opportunity, institutional reform, especially with increased education and international partnerships.

WE DETEST THE reemergence of “Who Knows You” system and hope the government will try to curb as soon as possible. In Liberia, there’s deep division more than before—tribal division, political division, religious division and cultural division, something which continues to undermine the spirit of national unity and brotherhood.