LMA’s Stalemate Deepens

-As Solicitor General, LMA Embattled President, Marketers Get At Each Other’s Throats  

By Mark N. Mengonfia

The stalemate at the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) has deepened, thus placing Liberia’s Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas and the embattled LMA president at each other’s throats.

Recently, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas at the Ministry of Information regular press briefing disclosed that the embattled President, Alice Yeebahn as an indictees should not be serving as president of the institution while she is facing their indictment.

Additionally, Cllr. Cephas indicated that since the impasse among marketers and their president, she (Alice) has been using the institution’s resources to combat the case at the court.

One of the issues raised by Cllr. Cephas was that madam Yeebahn was in the habit of ordering the beating of some of it members.

“Madam Yeebahn lacks the authority to lead the people and she should leave the premises of the LMA,” the Solicitor General added.

At the same time, the Public Relations arm of the Liberia Marketing Association (LMA) says it is disappointed by statements from the Solicitor General, Cllr. Syrenius Cephas that the LMA President, Alice Yeebahn allegedly depleting the accounts of the Marketing Association following her reinstatement by the Supreme Court of Liberia.

Mamadee Keita, head of PR at the LMA, said such statements are far from the reality and politically motivated, as the Association’s Accounts have been closed for the past thirteen months by the National Board of Directors to ensure transparency and accountability.

The LMA PR Keita termed the   Solicitor General’s action as gross violation of the ruling by the Supreme Court on the status of the LMA.

Keita furthered that “at no time has Madam Yeebahn dispatched individuals to attack the offices of the Red Light Market as alleged by some former LMA officials including its Former President, Lusu Sloan, Crawford and the Solicitor General”.

He intoned that “LMA leadership wants Cllr. Cephus to desist from threats of arrest of Madam Yeebahn using indictment as his authority”.

On the other hand, some members of the Liberia Marketing Association have extended their appreciation to the government of Liberia for their intervention in a standoff between them.

In an interview, the marketers from across the country praised Liberia’s Solicitor General Cllr. Syrenious Cephas for calling on the Internal Affairs Ministry to setup an interim leadership into place to run the affairs of the LMA as they await national convention.

The marketers said the move by Cllr. Cephas is in the best interest of the ordinary marketers.

The marketers said, over the period of time the embattled president, Alice Yeebahn has been using the institution’s account to fight against the general membership of the association.TNR