By Patrick Stephen Tokpah
/BONG
The Bong County Secretariat of the Federation of Liberian Youth (FLY) has categorically rejected the suspension of Coordinator, Abraham Kollie by the so-called National Executive Committee under the leadership of Banica Elliott.
Speaking at a press conference in Gbarnga, Bong County, on May 1, 2025, Obediah S. Famah, Jr., Volunteer, Mamie Moore, Acting Deputy Finance Officer, and Aaron T. Momo, Deputy Project Officer, considered the action of the National Executive Committee as illegal, politically motivated, and a blatant violation of the very constitution that governs FLY.
They said the suspension letter of Coordinator Abraham B.Kollie, dated April 29, 2025, fails to reference any specific article or provision of the FLY constitution that has allegedly been violated by Kollie.
The Bong County Secretariat alleged that the National Executive Committee of FLY in their letter of suspension to Kollie failed to present evidence to support the vague and unsubstantiated claims of “financial misconduct,” “expulsion of colleagues,” or “breach of trust.”
Momo, Famah, and Madam Moore admonished the National Executive Committee of FLY to adhere to the due process procedures required before any disciplinary action is taken against an elected official of FLY.
Furthermore, they emphasized that there was no meeting of the Executive Committee convened in accordance with the Constitution to deliberate and vote on such a serious decision.
Instead, this suspension is another desperate attempt by Madam Banica Elliott to suppress dissent and entrench her power ahead of the upcoming General Assembly.
“Let it be made clear that Banica Elliott is operating as a dictator, not a democratic leader. She is on a crusade to replace county coordinators who have publicly disagreed with her unconstitutional actions with individuals she can manipulate and control,” they added.
They described the president’s action as a direct threat to the independence of the county structures and a violation of the principles of youth participation and decentralization enshrined in the FLY Constitution.
The Bong County Secretariat revealed they remain united, strong, and immovable in the face of this intimidation.
“We stand firmly with Coordinator Abraham Kollie and reaffirm our support for his leadership, which has always upheld transparency, participation, and accountability. We will not allow FLY to be reduced to a personal empire serving the re-election ambition of one individual at the expense of the entire youth population of Liberia,” they added.
According to the Bong County FLY Officials, they have lodged a formal complaint with the Ministry of Youth and Sports and are calling for an immediate investigation into the illegal suspension and the constitutional crisis that Madam Elliott is orchestrating.
At the same time, the FLY Officials are demanding an immediate reversal of the illegal suspension of the coordinator.
“We are calling for the full restoration of constitutional order within FLY. An independent review of leadership conduct and misuse of authority within the National Executive. To the young people of Liberia, FLY belongs to all of us, not to any one leader or political camp. We must rise to defend it,” they noted.
