VZCZCXRO3935
RR RUEHMA RUEHPA
DE RUEHMV #0083/01 0231808
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 231808Z JAN 09
FM AMEMBASSY MONROVIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 0729
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MONROVIA 000083 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12598: N/A 
TAGS: EAID ECON PINR LI
SUBJECT: LIBERIA: Ambassador's Introductory Call on Minister of 
Planning and Economic Affairs 
 
REF A) Monrovia 26 B) 07 Monrovia 612 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary:  During a courtesy call by the Ambassador, 
Minister of Planning and Economic Affairs (MPEA) Amarah Konneh, who 
has been in office five months (ref B), thanked the USG for the 
"quick win" of the MCC threshold program and described his plans to 
take on the challenges of a historically moribund ministry.  He is 
introducing development officers for each county to better 
coordinate the GOL's poverty reduction strategies and is working to 
bring progress to the rule of law sector of the government.  End 
summary. 
 
¶2. (SBU) Konneh has focused the MPEA on monitoring the effectiveness 
of the GOL's Poverty Reduction Strategy (PRS).  Disdaining vague 
evaluations, such as "off track," for PRS deliverables, he is 
developing measurable indicators on whether poverty is being reduced 
nationwide.  In addition to his PRS monitoring role, Konneh is the 
GOL lead in shepherding Liberia's Millennium Challenge Corporation 
Threshold Program, a role he embraces with gusto.  Konneh said he 
appreciated the Ambassador's confidence in his abilities, and had 
taken her support as a challenge to rebuild the Ministry of 
Planning.  Noting it had been years since MPEA had chalked up a 
success of any kind, he said announcement of the MCC Threshold 
program had invigorated his staff, and they were committed to 
working closely with the USG and other partners on the Poverty 
Reduction Strategy.  (Note:  The GOL plans to incorporate MPEA into 
the Ministry of Finance, with Konneh's cooperation, but it will be 
some time before the legislative climate permits the consolidation. 
End note.) 
 
¶3. (SBU) Konneh and the Ambassador discussed issues related to 
development:  how to increase GOL "ownership" of policies, how to 
manage expectations, and how to rebuild the technical capabilities 
of a woefully under-educated and poorly-compensated civil service. 
The Ambassador noted that it is much easier for the USG to support 
ministries with good strategic plans, and encouraged Konneh's plans 
to improve that capacity among his colleagues. 
 
Closer Monitoring of County Development 
--------------------------------------- 
 
¶4. (SBU)  Konneh has brought visible energy to MPEA.  There are new 
renovations underway throughout the building, including a computer 
lab where MPEA staff are being trained to do the monitoring and 
evaluation he envisions.  MPEA is one of the few ministries that has 
grown, increasing to 154 employees, up from 135.  Konneh has added 
County Development Officers, just now being trained and about to be 
deployed around the country.  He described their role as serving as 
secretariats for the troubled County Development Committees (CDCs), 
and they are tasked to coordinate closely with each county's 
Superintendent and legislative caucus.   That relationship has been 
fraught, as executive and legislative branch officials wrangle for 
their share of the tempting pot of county development funds. 
 
¶5.  (SBU) The MPEA officers are to provide first-hand monitoring of 
development projects in each county, reporting problems and progress 
to the CDCs and through MPEA to guide decisions by the Liberia 
Reconstruction and Development Committee that overseas PRS 
implementation.  The MPEA officers, Konneh said, are better-paid 
than their county counterparts, but have been instructed to build 
coalitions, develop rapport with county officials, and not to act as 
if they are part of an elite.  A January 22 dinner hosted by the 
Minister of Internal Affairs, who oversees the county 
superintendents, was intended to introduce the superintendents to 
the new MPEA development officers and hopefully engender a collegial 
spirit of cooperation. 
 
Rule of Law Pillar Improving 
----------------------------- 
 
¶6. (SBU) In the context of improving PRS implementation, Konneh has 
assumed leadership of the fractiously uncooperative and ineffective 
Rule of Law pillar (ref A), and is even showing progress in that 
politically volatile minefield. (Note:  His most significant 
achievement has been encouraging GOL agencies that had ignored the 
Pillar entirely, such as the Governance Commission, the Civil 
Service Agency, and the Ministry of Internal Affairs, to regularly 
present progress on their deliverables at Pillar meetings.  End 
note.) 
 
Guinea is of concern 
-------------------- 
 
¶7. (SBU) In response to Konneh's question, the Ambassador said the 
USG is watching Guinea very closely, that we support the ECOWAS 
position, and that Africans and their governments have to make it 
very clear that the time for coups is over. 
 
Coming to terms with the past 
---------------------------- 
 
 
MONROVIA 00000083  002 OF 002 
 
 
¶8. (SBU) Konneh, a Mandingo and a Muslim, described his recent trip 
back to his village in Gbarpolu County, his first since leaving, at 
the age of 18, on January 18, 1990.  He had visited the bridge where 
his father was killed, and been able to talk to some of the 
eyewitnesses.  (Comment: We had heard reports that Konneh witnessed 
the murder of his father and brothers, but from his account it 
sounded as if he had not been present.  End comment.)  He said the 
rebel "generals" who instigated the violence, long-time friends and 
neighbors, have returned to farming, are wracked by remorse, and 
have been forgiven by the villagers. 
 
THOMAS-GREENFIELD