Photo Credit: James M. Garresen, II/Executive Mansion
Former member of the National Interim Legislative Assembly and former Chairman of the opposition Liberia Unification Party (LUP), Isaac Manneh is dead. According to sources, the former lawmaker died June 9, 2022 following a brief illness.
The UP, LAP, and LUP were at the heart of the political process in 1984 and formed the country’s first ever political merger. The parties’ founding fathers, the late Dr. Edward Kessely of the Unity Party, the late Gabriel William Kpolleh of the Liberia Unification Party and the late Jackson F. Doe of the Liberia Action Party, formed the famous Grand Coalition which contested the 1985 presidential elections against the then ruling National Democratic Party of Liberia of former President Samuel Doe.
The articles of merger were signed by the then President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, and the then Vice President Joseph Boakai, Dr. Charles Clarke and Mr. Henry Fahnbulleh for the Unity Party; and Counselor Varney Sherman, Mrs. Sheba Sherman and Professor Willie Belleh for the Liberia Action Party. Others signatories included Mr. Isaac Manneh and Mr. Cletus Sieh for the Liberia Unification Party.
In official remarks, LAP’s presidential candidate in the 2005 elections, Cllr. Varney Sherman, said party faithful and sympathizers who were in the trenches in 1984 would be excited about the merger with the UP and LUP. He further assured his partisans that if they continue to believe in him, good things are in store for the party. Counselor Sherman frowned on the proliferation of political parties which, he indicated, is an example of division amongst Liberians.
For her part, the former President Johnson Sirleaf paid tribute to the founding fathers of the three parties and said the merger is meant to honor their memory. She reiterated her commitment to multi-party democracy and stressed the need for strong political institutions in the country.
The ceremony marking the signing of the articles of merger of the three parties were witnessed by members of the diplomatic corps, political leaders and the media.
Detail will follow in our subsequent posting
