As President Joseph Nyuma Boakai presents Madam Nowai Gbotolo with a three-bedroom house, it raises concerns about the overlooked men and women who played a crucial role in promoting his Rescue Mission, including the late Molley Passawe, who passed away without receiving acknowledgment for his contributions.
There’s something profoundly unsettling about how political gratitude operates in Liberia; those who help in bringing a government to power are often celebrated during the struggle but forgotten once the rewards of victory start to materialize.
The story of The Rescue Journal team is becoming one of those uncomfortable truths.
During the 2023 presidential election, as the Unity Party (UP) sought to unseat the George Weah-led Coalition for Democratic Change (CDC) administration, a group of committed individuals rallied behind the opposition’s Rescue Mission. Through the pages of The Rescue Journal, they worked tirelessly to communicate, promote, and defend the political message of then-candidate Joseph Nyuma Boakai and his running mate, Jeremiah Kpan Koung. They were passionate about the cause they supported. They believed that ousting the Weah administration and restoring the UP to power was essential for Liberia’s future.
They dedicated their time, energy, professional skills, and, in some instances, personal resources to a political mission that ultimately benefited the party and its leaders.
Yet now, with the Unity Party firmly in power, we must confront an uncomfortable question: Who remembers the individuals behind The Rescue Journal?
President Boakai recently demonstrated an act of compassion by providing Madam Nowai Gbotolo with a three-bedroom house. During the dedication, the President explained that he had been made aware about her housing difficulties and took action to help her.
This gesture is no doubt commendable. A leader who addresses the needs of a citizen in distress exemplifies a crucial aspect of leadership.
Howbeit, the President’s remarks prompt another important question: Who will inform him that the members of the The Rescue Journal team also have their own needs? Who will remind him that behind the newspaper that supported his political journey are individuals who have families to care for, responsibilities to fulfill, and livelihoods to maintain?
If someone could bring Madam Gbotolo’s housing issue to the President’s attention, surely someone can also highlight the situation of the Rescue Journal team. Or have those who once benefited from their dedication simply forgotten?
The forgotten architects of the Rescue Mission
According to information available to team members, it appears that aside from those who were already employed in government and subsequently joined the Rescue Journal initiative, there has been no official meeting called by President Boakai, the Unity Party, Vice President Jeremiah Koung, or Senate Pro Tempore Nyonblee Karnga-Lawrence to acknowledge and thank the team for the contributions its members.
Furthermore, there seems to be no record of any direct rewards or compensation given to team members for their efforts on the publication.
This isn’t merely a call for government jobs. It shouldn’t be simplified to the notion that political campaign workers are entitled to government positions just because their candidate won.
The matter at hand is far more significant than employment; it revolves around appreciation, recognition, fairness, and the fundamental human duty to acknowledge those who stood by you during uncertain times in your political journey.
It’s especially disheartening when those who recognize the sacrifices made during the campaign benefit from the very government they helped create, yet seem reluctant to advocate for their former colleagues on The Rescue Journal team. Political progress shouldn’t come at the cost of human loyalty.
Molley Passawe: A fallen soldier of the Rescue Mission
No one embodies the tragedy of The Rescue Journal story quite like its founding Managing Editor, the late Molley Passawe. May he rest in peace.
Passawe was more than just a name linked to a campaign publication; he was the driving force behind an initiative that played a crucial role in the Unity Party’s communication strategy during one of Liberia’s most pivotal electoral battles.
He was passionate about the mission and the political change being pursued. Like his peers, he firmly believed that ousting the George Weah administration and giving the Unity Party another chance to lead was essential for the Republic’s future.
He dedicated himself professionally to this cause. Tragically, as his colleagues have noted, he passed away last year without receiving any compensation or significant recognition for his vital role in the political movement that ultimately brought the Unity Party to power.
Consider this for a moment; a man who contributed to a political cause, who served as the founding Managing Editor of its campaign publication, died while the government he helped install was already in power, yet he received no direct compensation or formal acknowledgment for his efforts.
His passing should not be seen as just another loss in a country where the contributions of ordinary citizens are often overlooked once influential figures achieve their goals.
Passawe deserves a proper tribute. He may not have held a ministerial position, enjoyed the benefits of a government role, or mingled with the political elite, but his impact on the political landscape warrants recognition.
He and his colleagues made a conscious decision; they believed Liberia needed a new political path and utilized their professional talents to promote that belief.
Whether one agrees with their political position or not, the impact they had on the electoral process should not be erased.
If the government is capable of recognizing the needs of its citizens and acting with compassion, it should also take the time to honor those who played a role in the political journey that led to its current position.
Passawe may not be able to return to receive any recognition that may come in the future, but the surviving members of his team deserve to know that their sacrifices have not been completely forgotten.
Where are the Unity Party beneficiaries?
The silence from some former campaign collaborators adds another troubling layer to this story. During political campaigns, it’s easy to make promises. People are motivated to sacrifice, mobilize, contribute resources, and stay committed because victory is framed as a shared accomplishment.
Yet, when that victory is achieved, the sense of collective spirit often fades away. Those who once stood together on campaign platforms, shared strategies, and held political dreams suddenly seem to drift apart. Some secure positions, settle into government roles, and start enjoying the benefits of public service.
Meanwhile, those who fought alongside them are left questioning whether the promises made during the struggle held any real meaning. This isn’t a blanket accusation against every Unity Party official, nor does it suggest that everyone who contributed to The Rescue Journal deserves a government paycheck.
Howbeit, it is a valid appeal for those who made commitments to show some level of accountability. If they can’t personally support their former colleagues, can’t they at least reach out to the President on The Rescue Journal team’s behalf? Can they not arrange a meeting? Can they not encourage the UP’s leadership to acknowledge the contributions of the team? Surely, expressing gratitude shouldn’t come at such a high cost.
Mr. President, the forgotten also have needs
President Boakai’s involvement in Madam Gbotolo’s housing issue highlights an important aspect of leadership; compassion should be universal, not selective. While it’s unrealistic to expect the President to be aware of every Liberian’s struggle, it’s crucial for those around him—party officials, political appointees, and others with access to the Executive Mansion—to bring important cases to his attention.
Those who alerted him to Madam Gbotolo’s situation did a commendable job. However, where are those who will inform him about The Rescue Journal team? Where are the Unity Party officials who collaborated with these individuals, made promises during the campaign, and now hold influential positions? Where are the party leaders who could easily organize a simple gathering to show appreciation for those who helped communicate the Rescue Mission? And what about the Unity Party’s role in all of this?
No one is suggesting that President Boakai should hand out houses to all former campaign workers or turn the national government into a reward system for political loyalty. It’s essential to manage public resources responsibly, ensuring that any assistance is warranted by genuine need and processed through the right channels.
Yet, showing recognition requires little effort. A formal invitation, a public acknowledgment, a gesture of appreciation, or a meeting with party leadership could serve as a meaningful start.
The Rescue Journal team isn’t asking Liberia to change its electoral past; they simply want those who benefited from their efforts to acknowledge the work that was done.
This serves as a lesson for President Boakai and the Unity Party: political successes are collective efforts, and those who contribute should not be forgotten once the celebrations are over.
Mr. President, someone has brought Madam Gbotolo’s needs to your attention. But who will speak up for The Rescue Journal team and remind you that they also have needs?
Before we address that, let us not forget Molley Passawe, a man who dedicated his professional life to a political cause he believed would benefit his country, yet passed away without the recognition his peers claim he deserved.
A government should remember not only those who have access to its halls of power but also those who worked tirelessly outside of them, believing and sacrificing when the outcome was still uncertain.
For The Rescue Journal team, the election is over, and the government is now in power. But the question of gratitude remains unanswered.
