By Moses J. Dawoe
/Southeast Correspondent
Liberia’s former Ambassador to Qatar and Unity Party executive, John Ballout, has strongly condemned the unauthorized use of his organization’s name, “We The People”, by political groups planning protest actions in the country.
Ambassador Ballout, a founding member of the non-political advocacy group, warned members of the organization against associating with a protest reportedly scheduled for June 17, 2025.
He described the move as a misuse of the group’s identity for political purposes.
In a press statement issued on May 4, 2025, Ballout said the organization was founded to address pressing social issues not to serve as a platform for political agenda.
“We The People was established to advocate for critical issues such as illegal drug abuse, violence against women, and maternal mortality,” he stated.
“We have no intention of engaging in any protest against the Government of Liberia.”
The statement, signed by the group’s executive committee, specifically referenced Mulbah Morlu, chairperson of the political group, STAND, as allegedly using “We The People’s” name in connection with the planned protest.
“It has come to the attention of the executive committee of “We The People” that Mulbah Morlu, chairman of STAND, is organizing a protest using our name,” the release noted.
The organization further clarified its position: “We wish to make it unequivocally clear that “We The people” is not affiliated with the planning, coordination, or promotion of this protest.
While we respect the democratic rights of all citizens to peacefully assemble, we must firmly object to the unauthorized use of our name.”
The group called on Morlu to immediately cease using “We The People” in connection with any aspect of the event. “We encourage him to proceed under the banner of his own platform, STAND, which is publicly recognized as leading this initiative,” the statement added.
“We The People” reaffirmed its commitment to remain an independent, non-political body focused on advocacy and civic engagement.
The organization emphasized that any official action or statement will be issued solely through its designated channels.
This incident highlights growing tensions between political actors and civil society groups, raising fresh concerns about the blurring lines between activism and partisan mobilization in Liberia’s democratic landscape.
