MONROVIA – Jackson Paye has accepted his appointment as Commissioner of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Commission, and has, at the same time appreciated President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for choosing him over many qualified Liberians. “I take this opportunity to thank His Excellency President Joseph Nyumah Boakai for preferring me as a Commissioner of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Commission”, Mr. Paye said on his official Facebook Page.
Paye comes to the job with worth of knowledge and experience in public sector management dating back to his days as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of National Defense and Superintendent of Nimba County. He also worked as Assistant Minister of the Ministry of Public Works, where he got promoted to the position of Deputy Minister for Rural Development. At the Ministry of Public Works, Paye oversaw the implementations of the Swedish Feeder Road Project and rural water and sanitation programs under the Ministry of Public Works. As part of his official duty, he led initial efforts in creating awareness of the WASH Compact document that paved the way for the establishment of the WASH Commission. He also owns and runs a private engineering firm.
Upon his appointment, Paye took to his social media page to appreciate President Boakai for nominating him to the position of Commissioner of the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Commission, noting, the appointment of an individual equates to the appointment and empowering of others. “Sometimes in political appointments, the appointment of an individual equates to the appointment and empowering of a slew of individuals encompassing, tribes, clans, chiefdoms, districts, etc., he emphasized.
He recounted his contribution to the “Rescue” Team’s campaign, and lamented the loss of some of his diehard supporters and friends in the electoral process. “In my case, it is even more than that because of the radical stance that few of us took to not only support, but to actively campaign for the Rescue Team in a very hostile political environment for which I personally lost some die hard supporters and friends.
Mr. Paye said he shall endeavor to justify the confidence repose in him by President Boakai. As a builder by profession and training as a civil engineer, architect and construction contractor, Jackson Paye has pledged to work with the Chief Executive Officer, George Yarngo, to build the WASH sector of Liberia and make it an enviable institution not only in Liberia, but the WASH Sector Worldwide.
Both Jackson Pay and George Yarngo worked together at the Ministry of Public Works, and were the architects of the act that created the WASH Commission. The both participated in several WASH forums across Africa, and were elected as first Chair for one of the forums in Deres’Salam, Tanzania, representing West Africa. Both men are not strangers in the WASH sector, and are ready make Liberia proud.
“Together, we shall endeavor to deliver the Sanitation pillar of the Agriculture, Roads, Rule of Law, Education, Sanitation, and Tourism (AREST) agenda, and I shall forever remain grateful, Mr. President, Paye said.
