FollowWe’ve written on the Ebola epidemic treatment that is funded by the EU and today we’re going to take a look at some more Ebola news. It appears that Liberia’s President fired state officials who left the country due to the Ebola outbreak.
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf has ordered the dismissal of senior and junior level cabinet ministers who have left the country and have still not returned, due to the Ebola outbreak.
Last week, Sirleaf gave those people an ultimatum, saying that they have one week to return to Liberia, or else they will be dismissed. The only ones who were exempted from the threat were those who had serious health-related excuses.
Lewis Brown, information minister, said that among the people dismissed was the Chairman of the National Investment Commission, Michael Wotorson, and some deputy and assistant ministers. The departure of government officials have added to the state of doubt in the country.
Brown declared that President Sirleaf needs and wants her ministers in the country, to join their powers and fight against the Ebola outbreak.
Brown stated:
You might remember that about a week and a half ago, the president issued an ultimatum that she wanted all officials of the Executive Branch back home. And so many of the officials on various assignments honored this and returned home. But a few still have not. And so with the expiring of the deadline, the president proceeded to issue dismissal orders.
Wotorson, jumped ahead and resigned his position in a letter to his cabinet colleagues:
This was a difficult decision for me, but it was the right one for me and my family.
The first US-Africa summit in Washington took place earlier this month in Washington, but Liberia’s president did not attend, as she chose to remain in the country.
Brown added that Liberia is facing harsh times due to the Ebola outbreak and that:
This [Ebola] is [a] scourge that requires all of us to work together to give support to our lead agencies, including the Ministry of Health to make sure that they have all of the support that we can muster to provide them the capacity they need to be able to help the country deal with this situation.
What are your thoughts on the fact that Liberia’s president fired state officials who lest the country out of fear for the Ebola outbreak? Was she right to do so? Share your comments with us in the section below.
