CPP Withdraws from COVID-19 Food Distribution Steering Committee -As Food Distribution Kicks off on Schedule

MONROVIA – The Opposition Collaborating Political Parties (CPP) has officially withdrawn its membership from the COVID-19 Food Distribution Steering Committee.

In a communication dated and transmitted under the signature of outgoing CPP Chairman Benoni Urey on May 11, 2020 and sent to President George M. Weah, the CPP said despite its best efforts and good-faith response to support the Government of Liberia in the fight to overcome the national health crisis and the accompanying economic and social disruptions, they were compelled to withdraw on account of the lack of serious leadership, improper planning, and the absence of transparency and accountability characterizing the overall response effort, to which the CPP said it cannot reasonably be exposed and/or associated with.

“The CPP insists that the response to the Pandemic must dutifully be characterized by a level of presidential leadership which inspires a national mobilization, commitment to transparency, honesty, diligence, accountability and work ethics to impress the existence of a serious emergency in the country. Unfortunately, we are constrained to conclude that this is not the presenting reality. As such, the CPP cannot lend its name, character, resources and expertise to be stamped upon an obvious failure in presidential leadership at this time of a serious national crisis,” the CPP averred in its letter to President Weah.

The Collaborating Political Parties further assured that both as a collective and in individual capacities, they will continue to support doctors, nurses and other healthcare workers who are selflessly struggling to fight for all Liberians often without the needed support from their government.

“We will also continue to do all we can in support of our people who obviously deserve more serious leadership in this crisis from this administration of our government,” the CPP noted in its letter.

Meanwhile, the National Steering Committee for the COVID-19 Household Food Supply Program (COHFSP) commenced distribution of food items on schedule to vulnerable communities beginning with orphanages, the disabled community, and other vulnerable population.