Congratulations to Liberia for another trailblazer
Even more needs to be done
By Ndirangu Wachanga 1/24/2006 - NT Daily

On the Southern part of West Africa lies a country that is remarkably a land of firsts. It was in this country that the American Colonization Society's efforts led to the settlement of free American slaves. It was on this land that the first African republic was founded in 1822. Initially called Monrovia, this amazing land became what we call the Free and Independent Republic of Liberia in 1847.
Its first president surprisingly was the Virginia-born Joseph Jenkins Roberts. Although Americo-Liberians controlled the econo-political landscape of this young nation, further immigration to Liberia by freed slaves came to a halt during the American Civil War.
Attempts to build its economy led to catastrophic debt levels. Repaying debts led to a constitutional crisis. It degenerated into civil strife in 1871, setting a history of bloodbaths in motion.
Liberia has been haunted since then. It has been reduced to a basket case by numerous civil wars. Only misery is in abundance in Liberia, a modern day Golgotha.
It is Liberia's desolate state that led to its scoring a tragic first in 1990 by undressing its president in public. His body was mutilated. Perpetrators of this monstrous act then stuffed his genitals in his mouth. The disfigured body, an ungodly sight, was wheeled in a cart through the city for all to see. The victim was Samuel Doe, a military sergeant who dreadfully ruled the country since 1985.
During Doe's reign, Liberia seemed irredeemable. It struck another first with a capital city that lacked electricity and running water. But that was insignificant compared to deaths of more than a half million Liberians. Samuel Doe's body was later dumped in a back street for flies and beasts to find relish.
If Liberia's past is permeated with a suffocating history of resignation, desolation, blood and death, this year provides some fresh air.
It is yet in consonance with Liberia's history of scoring a first. For it is in Liberia that the first African woman president was inaugurated last week. Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, 67, becomes the first Madam president in Africa, just as she was the first female finance minister in the continent.
Mama Ellen is astute and a survivor. She narrowly cheated execution in 1980. She has been in jail twice. Her resume is intimidating. She is Harvard-educated and a former World Bank economist.
Mama Ellen defeated George Weah, a soccer wizard who, in the 1995-96 season, captured the European, Africa and FIFA player of the year. He is a household name in Italy, France and England.
He is " King George" to soccer fans. Mama Ellen is the " Iron Lady" to political enthusiasts.
Rebuilding Liberia needs more than the mettle of iron. Mama Ellen needs to seriously step up the exploitation of Liberia's natural resources, rebuild infrastructure, create jobs and encourage exiled Liberians to return home to share their expertise and invest their money.
Mama Ellen's failure to transform Liberia from the theater of the macabre will be inexcusable. We can only wish Mama Ellen well.
Ndirangu Wachanga is a doctoral student in information science and Mayborn Institute graduate from Nairobi, Kenya.